Spokane County Sheriff says suspect committed suicide

05:08 PM PDT on Wednesday, April 27, 2005

BY STEVE WARREN / KREM.com

SPOKANE VALLEY - A 29-year-old man armed with a rifle apparently killed himself after a seven-hour standoff with authorities, which lasted throughout Wednesday morning and into the early afternoon. The suspect was later identified by authorities as Jeremy Douglas Stiffarm.

Around 1:25 p.m., law enforcement officials sent a robotic camera into the house located at 1320 North Stout Avenue in the Spokane Valley. Spokane County Sheriff's deputies told KREM 2 News the camera captured the image of the Stiffarm lying motionless on the floor of the house. 

At 1:55 p.m., Spokane County Sheriff Mark Sterk announced that the suspect was dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death.

Both Sheriff Sterk and Spokane Valley Police Chief Cal Walker spoke to the media and were relieved no officers were hurt in the incident. Walker told the assembled media representatives that "the operation went flawlessly on law enforcement's part." He said the investigation was just beginning on what happened inside the house. "We've got a lot of work ahead of us," Walker continued. "Documenting what happened at the scene and interviewing witnesses."

Sheriff Sterk also praised the team effort of the assembled law enforcement agencies including the Spokane County Sheriff's Office, the Spokane Valley Police Department, the Spokane Police Department SWAT team, troopers from the Washington State Patrol and the Spokane Valley Fire Department.

KREM

SWAT team members stand at ease just a few yards down the block from a Spokane Valley house where an armed suspect had held authorities at bay for seven-hours Wednesday.

Hails of gunfire were heard throughout Wednesday morning and into the early afternoon as authorities advised residents to avoid the area, which Corporal Dave Reagan of the Spokane County Sheriff's Office described as "volatile and chaotic."

At least 75 officers and multiple jurisdictions, including Spokane County and Spokane SWAT teams, were at the scene and authorities shut down a ten-block radius in the neighborhood.

Initially, two other people were reported to be in the house.  Around 11:20 a.m., officers removed a man from the house.  Officials later said the man was merely a tenant and not involved in the incident.

KREM

This is a photo of the Spokane Valley house were an armed suspect exchanged gunfire with authorities before killing apparently killing himself Wednesday afternoon.

At about 11:15 a.m., SWAT teams began firing the first three rounds of a total of 20 tear gas canisters that were used to try to force Stiffarm out of the house. At the same time, law enforcement officials said Stiffarm lit firecrackers both inside and outside of the house.

Police had advised residents inside homes in the area to stay away from windows and move into interior rooms. They advised other residents on foot or in cars to avoid the area completely.

Parents with children who attend nearby Ness Elementary School were advised to keep them away from the area. Students were re-directed to West Valley City School and afternoon kindergarten classes were canceled. Sixteen students already at Ness Elementary School were reported to be safe and waiting in the gymnasium with staff.

Police said they received a call from Stiffarm's ex-girlfriend Wednesday morning. The girlfriend said the suspect was distraught over their breakup and had a rifle and was threatening suicide and harming others.

Spokane Valley Police officers arrived at the scene and surrounded the home.   One officer managed to enter the home and talk with Stiffarm inside; however, while they were talking, someone began shooting at officers from a basement window and an exchange of gunfire ensued.

"They had approached the back of the house, they saw somebody inside the house, called him to the window," said Reagan. "They were in the process of establishing a dialogue with him when they began taking fire from a basement window located in the northwest corner of the home."

Police said Stiffarm reportedly later called 9-1-1 to tell officers he had been wounded in the arm during the shootout.

KREM 2 News Timeline -- Spokane Valley Armed Suspect Standoff

Here's a breakdown of the chain of events that led to the death of Jeremy Stiffarm.

7:17 a.m. -- Stiffarm's ex-girlfriend called 9-1-1 telling operators he was suicidal.

7:40 a.m. -- Spokane County Sheriff's deputies arrived on the scene.  That is when deputies say Stiffarm shot at them with a .22-caliber rifle, leading to the first exchange of gunfire.

8:20 a.m. -- Deputies confirmed there was another man inside the house.

9:00 a.m. -- Ness Elementary School locked-down.  Soon after, SWAT teams tried to free the second man from the house, but the suspect opened fire again and SWAT teams retreated.

9:16 a.m. -- KREM 2 News crews heard a hail of gunfire.

11:15 a.m. -- SWAT teams rescued the second man from the house. Then they began launching tear gas canisters, three rounds in all that were fired into the house at this time. Also during this time, the suspect set off firecrackers inside his house.

1:25 p.m. -- A SWAT team robot entered the house and confirmed the suspect was motionless on the floor.

1:55 p.m. -- Authorities announced Jeremy Stiffarm was dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. 

-- NWCN's Lisa Javier contributed to this report.