UPDATE: Spokane Police Shoot, Kill Suspect Armed With A Handgun - Spokane, North Idaho News & Weather KHQ.com

UPDATE: Spokane Police Shoot, Kill Suspect Armed With A Handgun

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by Kelsey Watts, KHQ Local News Anchor/Reporter - bio | email

  • Also on KHQ.com

  • Wednesday, February 6 2013 5:48 PM EST2013-02-06 22:48:36 GMT
    SPOKANE, Wash. - A background check by KHQ Tuesday afternoon shows that the man shot and killed by Spokane Police following a pursuit early Tuesday morning on Spokane's South Hill had an extensive criminal history.
    SPOKANE, Wash. - A background check by KHQ Tuesday afternoon shows that the man shot and killed by Spokane Police following a pursuit early Tuesday morning on Spokane's South Hill had an extensive criminal history.

  • Tuesday, February 5 2013 10:12 PM EST2013-02-06 03:12:06 GMT
    SPOKANE, Washington - Spokane Police Chief Frank Straub was on scene at the shooting where he told KHQ reporters that he backs his officers and their actions Tuesday morning.
    SPOKANE, Washington - Spokane Police Chief Frank Straub was on scene at the shooting where he told KHQ reporters that he backs his officers and their actions Tuesday morning.

  • Tuesday, February 5 2013 9:07 PM EST2013-02-06 02:07:39 GMT
    UPDATE: The Spokane County Medical Examiner has just released the name of the man killed in an officer-involved shooting early Tuesday morning. He has been identified as 52-year-old Jacob I. Dorfman.
    UPDATE: The Spokane County Medical Examiner has just released the name of the man killed in an officer-involved shooting early Tuesday morning. He has been identified as 52-year-old Jacob I. Dorfman.  READ THE OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE INSIDE OF THE STORY>>>

SPOKANE, Wash. - Witnesses tell KHQ they were woken up in the middle of the night to police, lights, sirens, and gunfire right outside their doors.

"We heard pop, pop, pop, then all of a sudden, we had cop cars coming down the road and that's when everything started happening," said Jesse Barrett, who lives next to the Huckleberry's grocery store on 10th & Monroe.

Darcy Caputo also heard the shots from his home right next to Ace Hardware on 9th & Monroe, where the police chase ended and the suspect lost his life.

"I heard a big screeching sound and then 8 or 9 gunshots," Caputo told KHQ.  "I heard someone yell, ‘Show me your hands, show me your hands,' and then swarms, there was like 30 cop cars within a minute."

Police remained on scene for 12 hours Tuesday, as several blocks in the area were taped off and the shopping center remained closed.

"We didn't know if someone else is out there, is someone walking around?  I mean, we live right here, so it's like, who knows?" Caputo added.

Before the chase ended, the suspect caused considerable damage as he crashed through fences at a home and business trying to get away from police.

Tuesday afternoon, at least three Spokane Police patrol cars were towed from the area, before the tan Jeep Grand Cherokee the suspect was driving was taken away.  The crash left some damage to the side of the Ace Hardware store, where police used a pit maneuver to stop the suspect.

But in the moments of chaos around 1 a.m. when all this was happening, neighbors didn't know what was going on, and some feared for their safety.

"We were peeking out our windows, not turning our lights on," Caputo said.  "Like, ‘Who knows, maybe there's a psycho out there with a gun looking for refuge.'"

The police tape finally came down at 1 p.m., when the shopping center and area streets reopened.

The Spokane Police officers involved have not been named, and they were not hurt in the incident.

Tuesday afternoon, the Spokane County Medical Examiner identified the man killed in the shooting as 52-year-old Jacob I. Dorfman.