Two Young Deputies Killed During Rescue Attempt in Washington — The Heartbreaking Stories They Leave Behind

What began as an emergency call from a wounded woman in rural Washington ended in a tragedy that claimed five lives, including those of two young sheriff's deputies who had rushed to help.

On November 3, 2026, officers responded to a home near Spangle, unaware of the full extent of the violence that had already unfolded. Within an hour, a disturbing discovery and an urgent attempt to rescue people believed to be in danger would change several families forever.

A Desperate Call That Set Everything in Motion

The emergency began at approximately 2:25 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3, when a woman who had been shot fled her family home near Spangle, a small community south of Spokane.

She made it to a neighbor's house and sought help, telling authorities that her brother had shot her. Although she had suffered a gunshot wound to the chest, she survived and was later taken to a hospital with injuries that officials described as non-life-threatening.

The wounded woman was later identified as Julie Larsen. Her call also raised an alarming possibility: other people remained inside the house, and she feared their lives were in danger. When deputies arrived, they learned that the suspected gunman had an active felony arrest warrant and might have access to additional weapons. With potential victims still inside, the situation quickly became more than a routine response to a domestic violence call.

The Spokane County Sheriff's Office requested assistance from its SWAT team, whose members are trained to respond to particularly dangerous incidents. But before officers attempted to enter the home, they used another method to gather information about what was happening on the property.

What the Drone Revealed Before the Rescue

As deputies assessed the situation, they deployed a drone to examine the property from a safer distance. What they discovered immediately raised the stakes: a body was lying in the yard.

According to Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels, the drone allowed responding officers to identify the person outside the residence. However, the discovery did not mean the danger was over.

Authorities still believed there was an active threat inside the home, where other family members could be in danger. With the wounded woman's warning and the disturbing discovery outside, officers faced an increasingly urgent situation.

At approximately 3:15 p.m., deputies moved toward the residence and prepared to force their way inside. What happened as they reached the door would turn the rescue attempt into a deadly confrontation.

The Moments Before Gunfire Erupted

At approximately 3:15 p.m., SWAT officers and sheriff's deputies approached the residence on South Smythe Road. They believed an active threat remained inside and attempted to break down the door to reach anyone who might still need help. But as the officers approached, shots suddenly rang out from inside the house.

"As they approached, shots were fired from inside the home, and two deputies were critically injured by gunfire," the Washington State Patrol stated in a Thursday news release, as reported by The Spokesman-Review.

The officers had little time to react. According to Sheriff John Nowels, three deputies returned fire as the confrontation unfolded, while others worked to move their wounded colleagues away from the immediate danger.

"Other deputies returned fire and worked to move their severely injured teammates to a position of cover while providing medical aid," the Washington State Patrol explained. The situation grew even more devastating when officers discovered another victim lying on the floor after the exchange of gunfire.

One wounded deputy was transported by patrol vehicle, while another was flown by a Life Flight helicopter to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane. At the hospital, fellow officers gathered as the families waited for news. Some deputies were seen crying, while chaplains and honor guard members arrived to support those affected by the shooting.

Sheriff Nowels appeared visibly shaken during his news conference that evening. He described the incident as a devastating day for the county and spoke about the deputies who had entered the house knowing the danger they might face. "Both of our deputies are fighting for their lives. Both have very young families," he said.

Five Lives Lost in a Family Tragedy

As investigators continued examining the property, the full scale of the violence gradually became clear. The incident had begun as a reported shooting within a family and ultimately left five people dead, including the suspected gunman and the two deputies.

The Spokane County Medical Examiner's Office identified the family members who died as Suzanne Larsen, 72, and Rebecca Larsen, 45, along with 37-year-old Ryan Larsen, who was suspected of carrying out the shootings. Suzanne was Ryan's mother, while Rebecca was his sister. Their deaths were classified as homicides, while Ryan's death was ruled a suicide caused by a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

According to local reporting, the family had longstanding ties to the property. Public records indicated that Suzanne and her husband had purchased the five-acre homestead from her parents in 1988. Julie Larsen, who had managed to escape and alert authorities, survived the shooting. Her account gave investigators vital information about the danger facing those who remained behind.

After the deputies were wounded, law enforcement continued searching the home. Investigators later used a drone to enter the residence and discovered the suspect dead inside. The investigation established the suspected sequence of events, although the reasons behind the violence remained unclear. Authorities had not publicly established a definitive motive.

But the tragedy did not end with the deaths inside the Larsen family home. Two other families were about to face losses that would change their lives forever — and the stories of the deputies who rushed toward danger reveal just how much was taken from them.

Both men had young children waiting at home. One had spent years protecting fellow officers during dangerous operations, while the other had responded to the emergency without being specifically dispatched, driven by the possibility that someone inside might still be saved.

Mason Acheson, 35 — A Father Who Dedicated His Life to Service

Among those who lost their lives was Mason Acheson, 35, a husband and father of two whose years in law enforcement and military service had prepared him for some of the most dangerous situations an officer could face.

Before joining the Spokane County Sheriff's Office in 2022, Acheson spent eight years with the Washington State Patrol, serving as both a trooper and firearms instructor. But it was his specialized role on the sheriff's SWAT team that placed him among the officers others depended on when lives were at risk.

Acheson's dedication extended beyond his work as a deputy. He joined the Washington Army National Guard in 2011, later serving in Poland and earning several military honors for his service.

His training also made him a trusted member of the sheriff's SWAT team, where he served as a sniper and provided overwatch during dangerous operations. While other officers moved toward potential threats, Acheson's responsibility was to help keep them safe from a distance — a role that required exceptional focus, judgment and trust.

On November 3, Acheson was among the deputies who approached the Spangle home believing that someone inside might still be in danger. Despite his years of experience and specialized training, he was critically wounded during the attempted rescue and later died from his injuries.

The Spokane County Sheriff's Office remembered him as a man who had dedicated his life to serving his country, community and fellow officers. But beyond his professional accomplishments, Acheson was also a husband and father whose death left a devastating absence at home.

He left behind his wife and two children. For them, the tragedy was not simply the loss of an experienced deputy, but the loss of someone whose presence had been part of their everyday lives.

Parker Perry, 29 — A Young Father's Final Act of Service

The second deputy, Parker Perry, 29, was also a husband and father whose life revolved around responsibilities that extended far beyond his uniform. At home, a young family depended on him, while at work, he had built a career around protecting and helping others.

Perry joined the Spokane County Sheriff's Office in 2020, eventually becoming a K-9 deputy. His bond with his police dog, Brego, was an important part of his work — and the two were on duty together when the emergency call came on November 3.

Like Acheson, Perry also served in the Washington Army National Guard, rising to the rank of captain while continuing his law enforcement career. He had previously been part of the sheriff's SWAT team before becoming a K-9 deputy in 2025.

His four-legged partner, Brego, accompanied him on duty, working alongside Perry as part of the department's K-9 unit. But on November 3, a call about a family in danger would lead Perry into a situation he had not originally been assigned to handle.

According to the Spokane County Sheriff's Office, Perry had not been specifically dispatched to the emergency near Spangle. But when he learned that someone might still be trapped inside the home, he chose to respond alongside his fellow deputies. He joined the rescue attempt and helped force entry into the residence despite the danger. Moments later, gunfire erupted, leaving Perry critically wounded and fighting for his life.

For the next three days, his family, friends and colleagues faced an agonizing wait as doctors worked to save him. On November 6, 2026, Perry died from his injuries, surrounded by loved ones, fellow service members and law enforcement colleagues.

The loss was especially heartbreaking for the family waiting for him at home. Perry left behind his wife and two children — and the couple was expecting their third child, who would never have the opportunity to meet their father. For his loved ones, the tragedy meant losing not only a deputy who had dedicated his life to helping others, but a husband and father whose family was still growing.

Yet there was one final chapter to Perry's story — a decision that would allow his commitment to helping others to continue even after his death.

A Final Gift That Could Save Other Lives

Even in the aftermath of Perry's death, his story took one final, deeply moving turn. The Spokane County Sheriff's Office announced that the 29-year-old deputy had become an organ donor, giving others the possibility of receiving life-saving transplants.

The donation came during an extraordinarily painful time for his family, who had just lost a husband and father. For those remembering Perry's commitment to helping others, the decision added another meaningful chapter to a life devoted to service.

An honor escort departed Sacred Heart Hospital at approximately 4:15 p.m. on November 7 and traveled to the county medical examiner's office. The procession provided another opportunity for law enforcement colleagues to honor a deputy whose career had been marked by service. It also came at a time when the families of both men were still struggling to process their losses.

Perry's organ donation added a poignant dimension to an already heartbreaking story. While it could not undo the tragedy, it offered the possibility of life and hope to others facing serious medical emergencies.

A Community Comes Together for Two Grieving Families

In the days after the shooting, support began pouring in for the families of Acheson and Perry. Fellow first responders, local residents and community organizations sought ways to help those left behind. On November 9, a fundraising event organized by a local firefighters' union was held at Hop Mountain Taproom & Grill in Mead, Washington.

The event included a symbolic challenge involving stair machines. First responders took steps in recognition of donations, creating a physical tribute to the service and sacrifice of the two deputies. By 6 p.m., organizers had raised more than $24,000, with the money intended to be divided between the two families.

One participant, firefighter Nic Pluskota of Spokane County Fire District 9, explained that the tragedy had affected the wider first-responder community, whose members often see one another as an extended family. Another supporter, Julia Deluna, emphasized that the donations were intended for the wives, children, parents and loved ones who would have to navigate life after such an enormous loss.

The fundraising effort was part of a broader response. Behind The Badge, a nonprofit organization supporting law enforcement officers and their families, mobilized a team of more than 60 people to assist those affected. Its executive director, Brian Johnston, stressed the importance of giving grieving families time, privacy and space while ensuring that practical help remained available.

The Families and Lives Behind the Badges

The tragedy in Spangle left two families mourning Suzanne and Rebecca Larsen, a surviving sister recovering from a gunshot wound, and the families of two deputies who were killed while attempting to protect others. For the Spokane County Sheriff's Office, the deaths of Mason Acheson and Parker Perry were an immeasurable loss. Both men had dedicated years to protecting their communities, and both were killed while responding to a situation in which other lives were believed to be in danger.

Their colleagues will remember the experience, courage and commitment they brought to their work. But for the families they left behind, the loss is far more personal: two households must now face a future without the husbands and fathers who were supposed to be part of it. The sheriff's office has asked the public to respect the privacy of the families as they mourn.

The circumstances of November 3 remain a painful reminder of the risks officers can face when responding to domestic violence emergencies. What began with a wounded woman's urgent call for help ended with five deaths and a community searching for ways to support the people left behind.

For Mason Acheson's two children and Parker Perry's growing family, the consequences will last a lifetime. And while the investigation will continue to establish the full circumstances of the shooting, the lives of the two deputies are being remembered for far more than the tragic way they ended.