SPOKANE, Wash. – The Spokane Independent Investigative Response Team has finished looking into the police-involved shooting that occurred in downtown Spokane in February. The Spokane County Prosecutor will now decide the fate of the officers involved.
Spokane police officers and Department of Corrections officers responded to a suicidal man armed with a knife near Post and Riverside around noon on Feb. 12.According to SPD, the suspect, Oscar Venegas, was walking down Riverside when he displayed his knife and held it to someone’s throat. He then flashed the knife again, backing someone down the block.Officers attempted to talk with Venegas and used tasers to control him, but he did not comply.SPD confirmed that two officers shot Venegas, then immediately provided medical aid and transported him to the hospital.Venegas later died from his injuries. His sister stated that he was experiencing a mental health crisis and believes police could have used non-lethal force.The Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office will now review the completed investigation.
