Spokane police officer shoots, kills armed man near Esmeralda Golf Course

A Spokane police officer shot and killed an armed man near Esmeralda Golf Course on Wednesday afternoon, according to Spokane Police Chief Craig Meidl.

Police received a call from people trying to comfort a suicidal male with a firearm walking in the area of the 3400 block of East Garnet Avenue at about 1:30 p.m., according to police. The individuals also reported that they removed a gun from the man’s possession.

Officers set up a perimeter around the area when they arrived, according to police.

Within 30 minutes of the call, an officer saw the man, whose age has not been released, exit a residence with a second firearm in his hand, according to police. The officer called for the man to drop the gun after it appeared he was aiming it at someone to the west.

Meidl said the man then turned east to point the gun at the officer, according to witnesses. The officer fired at least two shots from a rifle at the man, who was about three houses away.

First aid was rendered to the man, but he died at the scene, Meidl said.

No other people were injured, according to police.

Police recovered a firearm in the vicinity of the man, Meidl said.

Spokane police notified Spokane Public Schools of the shooting, but Cooper Elementary School, which is nearby, did not need to go on lockdown because the scene already was under control, said Brian Coddington, Spokane Public Schools spokesman.

Meidl said he did not know if the deceased man spoke to first responders.

Police confirmed that the officer who shot at the man activated a body-worn camera during the incident, said Sgt. Terry Preuninger, a police spokesman.

The Spokane County medical examiner will release the identity of the deceased man, Meidl said. The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office will investigate the shooting with assistance from the Washington State Patrol.

Jared Brown contributed to this report.