Ryan T. Larsen and the 2026 Spangle Mass Shooting
Overview
On November 3, 2026, a devastating mass shooting unfolded at a rural family residence near Spangle, Washington, approximately 20 miles south of Spokane. The violence began inside a multigenerational household and escalated into a deadly confrontation with law enforcement. The suspected gunman, 37-year-old Ryan T. Larsen, killed his mother and sister, wounded another sister, and opened fire on Spokane County sheriff's deputies attempting to rescue people believed to be in danger.
The attack claimed the lives of Suzanne Larsen, 72, Rebecca Larsen, 45, and Deputy Mason Acheson, 35. Deputy Parker Perry, 29, suffered catastrophic gunshot injuries and was not expected to survive. Although authorities were honoring Perry as a fallen deputy, officials confirmed on November 6 that he remained on life support and his death had not formally been declared.
Larsen was subsequently found dead inside the residence from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. His death brought the immediate violence to an end, leaving behind a family devastated by murder and a law enforcement community mourning two deputies.
The Attack and Timeline
The shooting occurred at a five-acre family property on South Smythe Road, west of U.S. Highway 195. The residence belonged to Larsen's parents, Keith and Suzanne Larsen, who had purchased the property from Suzanne's parents in 1988. Public records indicated that several members of the Larsen family lived on the acreage.
The precise time the violence began remains unknown. Investigators established that Ryan Larsen had shot family members before deputies arrived, but the sequence of the initial attacks has not been fully disclosed.
The emergency became known to authorities when Larsen's sister, Julie Larsen, escaped the property after suffering a gunshot wound to her chest. She reached a neighboring residence and reported that her brother had shot her. The possibility that other family members remained inside created immediate concern.
At approximately 2:25 p.m., Spokane County sheriff's deputies responded to the reported domestic violence shooting. They learned that the suspected gunman had an outstanding felony arrest warrant, potentially had access to additional firearms, and might be threatening other people inside the home.
Deputies deployed a drone to examine the property and discovered a deceased person outside in the yard. Even after confirming that victim's death, they believed someone inside might still need rescue.
Around 3:15 p.m., deputies and members of the sheriff's SWAT team approached the residence to make an emergency entry. As they attempted to force their way inside, gunfire erupted from the home.
Deputies Mason Acheson and Parker Perry were struck and critically wounded. Other deputies returned fire while attempting to move their injured colleagues to safety.
The shooting prompted a substantial emergency response involving additional tactical teams, medical personnel, and law enforcement agencies. Eventually, another drone entered the residence and located Ryan Larsen dead. Investigators also discovered another deceased family member inside.
The Victims
The violence affected two generations of the Larsen family and two law enforcement officers who had entered the property attempting to save lives.
\- Suzanne Larsen, 72 — Ryan Larsen's mother and a longtime resident of the family homestead. She died from a gunshot wound to the head, and the Spokane County Medical Examiner classified her death as a homicide.
\- Rebecca Larsen, 45 — Ryan Larsen's sister and another member of the household. She suffered gunshot wounds and blunt-force injuries, both identified in the medical examiner's findings, and her death was classified as a homicide.
\- Mason Acheson, 35 — A Spokane County sheriff's deputy, SWAT sniper, former Washington State Patrol trooper, and Washington Army National Guard sergeant. He died early on November 4 from injuries sustained during the attempted rescue, leaving behind his wife and two children.
\- Parker Perry, 29 — A Spokane County K-9 deputy, former SWAT member, and Washington Army National Guard captain. He suffered catastrophic gunshot injuries while forcing entry into the residence; as of November 6, he remained on life support with no expectation of survival. He had a wife, two children, and a third child on the way.
Julie Larsen survived the attack after being shot in the chest. Her injuries were initially described as non-life-threatening, and she received hospital treatment. Her escape and report to authorities provided the first warning of the violence occurring at the residence.
Both deputies had extensive public-service backgrounds. Acheson previously spent eight years with the Washington State Patrol and served in Poland during his National Guard career. Perry had graduated from Carroll College in Montana and worked with his K-9 partner, Brego. Their deaths and injuries transformed an already devastating family homicide into a tragedy affecting the broader Spokane County community.
The Perpetrator's Background
Ryan T. Larsen was 37 years old and lived at the same South Smythe Road property where the shootings occurred. Public records identified him as a member of the household, alongside his parents and siblings.
His criminal history included firearm-related offenses and allegations of fleeing law enforcement.
One notable incident occurred in 2015 in Rosalia, Washington. Court records described a confrontation involving a pedestrian walking a dog near Larsen's property. After the dog defecated in the yard, the pedestrian reportedly attempted to clean up the waste. Larsen allegedly ordered the person off his property and pointed a revolver at him.
Investigators recovered three firearms associated with that incident: a .357 Magnum revolver, a rifle, and a shotgun. Authorities took the weapons for public safety reasons.
Larsen initially faced a second-degree assault charge but was ultimately convicted of aiming or discharging a firearm. He served 10 days in jail. His appeal was dismissed in 2022, and an additional failure-to-appear warrant remained associated with the case.
Another encounter occurred in 2025 when a Spokane Valley deputy attempted to stop a truck exceeding the speed limit. According to court records, the driver failed to stop and continued through a red light during the pursuit. The vehicle was linked to Larsen, whose records also revealed outstanding warrants involving weapons offenses.
A Spokane County felony arrest warrant dated February 6, 2026, remained active when the mass shooting occurred.
Warning Signs and Motive
Larsen's prior encounters with law enforcement established a documented history of threatening conduct involving a firearm, weapons-related legal problems, and alleged efforts to evade police.
The 2015 confrontation was particularly concerning because it involved the alleged use of a firearm to threaten an individual during an ordinary neighborhood disagreement. His later failure to stop for police and outstanding warrants added to his unresolved legal difficulties.
Nevertheless, these incidents do not establish why he attacked his family on November 3, 2026.
Investigators had not publicly confirmed a motive, whether a particular family dispute precipitated the violence, or whether Larsen had made threats immediately before the shootings. No verified evidence established that the killings had been planned in advance.
Although authorities classified the initial incident as domestic violence, that description reflected the relationship between the suspected attacker and his victims. It did not establish a specific underlying dispute or psychological explanation.
The medical examiner's findings established that Larsen's mother and sister were homicide victims. The additional blunt-force injuries suffered by Rebecca indicated that the violence involved more than gunfire alone, but investigators had not publicly explained the circumstances of those injuries.
The Police Response and Investigation
The confrontation placed responding officers in an exceptionally dangerous situation. Deputies knew there had been a shooting, had discovered a body outside, and believed another individual might still be alive inside the residence.
Perry, who had joined the sheriff's office in May 2020, responded with his police dog, Brego. Although he had transferred from the SWAT team to K-9 duties in 2025, he joined the deputies advancing toward the house. He participated in forcing entry while attempting to reach the potential hostage.
Acheson, who joined the sheriff's office in July 2022 after serving with the Washington State Patrol, was an experienced tactical officer. His assignments included providing sniper overwatch for SWAT operations.
When the deputies were shot, their colleagues returned fire, pulled them toward cover, and provided emergency medical assistance. Life Flight helicopters were requested, and portions of Interstate 90 and U.S. Highway 195 were temporarily closed to facilitate emergency transportation.
The wounded deputies were taken to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane. Acheson died early the following morning. Perry remained in critical condition, and his family pursued arrangements for organ donation.
The Spokane Police Department's SWAT team assumed control of the active scene, with additional assistance requested from the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office.
The Spokane Independent Investigative Response Team took responsibility for investigating the incident, with the Washington State Patrol serving as lead agency. The inquiry encompasses the original homicides, the shooting of deputies, and the responding officers' use of deadly force.
Three deputies who returned fire were placed on administrative leave. Investigators were expected to examine the available evidence and reconstruct the sequence of events.
The Legal Outcome
Ryan Larsen was never arrested for the November 3 killings because he died at the scene.
The Spokane County Medical Examiner determined that his death resulted from a gunshot wound to the head and classified the manner of death as suicide. That finding supported investigators' conclusion that Larsen had taken his own life after the shootings.
Consequently, there will be no criminal trial, conviction, or sentence against Larsen for the 2026 attack. His earlier firearms conviction and ten-day jail sentence remain separate from the events in Spangle.
The investigation nevertheless remains significant. The independent investigative team must establish the circumstances of the shootings, examine law enforcement's response, and determine whether the officers' use of force complied with applicable Washington law.
Once completed, the investigation is expected to be forwarded to the Spokane County Prosecutor's Office for review. As of November 7, 2026, no final investigative findings or prosecutorial determination had been announced.
The Aftermath
The violence sent shockwaves through Spokane County and neighboring communities. In the days following the attack, sheriff's deputies and police officers wore mourning bands over their badges, while flags were lowered in recognition of the fallen officers.
Acheson and Perry were remembered for careers involving both military and civilian public service. Acheson had served in the Washington Army National Guard since 2011 and earned multiple commendations. Perry had joined the Guard in 2017, achieving the rank of captain and serving as a military intelligence officer.
In Oakesdale, Washington, where Perry graduated from high school in 2016, former teachers and coaches recalled his athletic accomplishments, leadership, and determination. His hometown mourned a young man whose career had been devoted to protecting others.
The Spokane County Sheriff's Office and community organizations established donation efforts to assist the deputies' families with funeral expenses and financial support. Governor Bob Ferguson also directed that Washington state and United States flags at state facilities be lowered on November 9, 2026, in remembrance of both deputies.
For the Larsen family, the devastation was intensely personal. Suzanne and Rebecca were killed in their family home, while Julie survived serious violence inflicted during an attack allegedly committed by her own brother. The family was left to confront the loss of loved ones and the unresolved question of what drove the violence.
The November 3, 2026, Spangle mass shooting remains a tragedy involving domestic homicide, a deadly attack on responding law enforcement officers, and the suicide of the suspected perpetrator. Even as the investigation continues, its lasting consequences are already evident in the families, colleagues, and community members left mourning those who were killed or mortally wounded.
