Rebecca Larsen

A quiet afternoon in the small farming community of Spangle, Washington, was shattered on November 3, 2026, by an act of terrible violence that claimed the life of Rebecca Larsen, a 45-year-old woman, along with three other people. The tragedy unfolded at a home on South Smythe Road, a place that would become the center of a massive police response and a community’s grief.

The incident began to unfold around 2:25 p.m. when the Spokane County Sheriff's Office received a frantic 911 call. A woman reported that she had been shot by her brother and had managed to escape to a neighbor’s house to seek help. She expressed grave concern for her mother and sister, Rebecca, who were still on the property with the gunman. This call triggered an immediate and large-scale law enforcement response, as deputies learned the suspect had an active felony warrant and access to firearms.

Concerned for the safety of others inside the home, members of the Spokane County SWAT team and sheriff's deputies approached the residence around 3:15 p.m. to make an emergency entry. As they neared the house, they were met with a hail of gunfire from within. Two deputies were critically injured in what authorities would later describe as an ambush. Other officers returned fire while desperately trying to rescue their fallen colleagues and provide medical aid. The intense situation led to the closure of nearby highways to allow for emergency transport of the wounded deputies.

As the standoff continued, the scene was secured, and additional SWAT teams from the Spokane Police Department and Kootenai County Sheriff's Office were called in for assistance. After a period with no contact from inside the house, an unmanned aerial vehicle was sent in to assess the situation. The drone discovered the body of the suspect, 37-year-old Ryan T. Larsen, who was Rebecca's brother. Investigators believe he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after his deadly rampage.

A further search of the property revealed the devastating extent of the violence. The body of 72-year-old Suzanne Larsen, Ryan and Rebecca's mother, was found, as was Rebecca Larsen. The Spokane County Medical Examiner later determined that Rebecca died from a combination of gunshot wounds and blunt force trauma. Her mother had succumbed to a gunshot wound to the head. The sister who had initially called 911 survived with non-life-threatening injuries.

In the end, five people were dead: Rebecca Larsen, her mother Suzanne Larsen, the perpetrator Ryan T. Larsen, and two Spokane County Sheriff's deputies, Mason Acheson and Parker Perry, who were shot while trying to save others. The mass killing left the small community of Spangle and the wider Spokane area in a state of shock and mourning. The investigation into the horrific events was taken over by the Washington State Patrol.

The case is now considered closed as the primary suspect is deceased. The focus has since shifted to remembering the victims and supporting the grieving families, including the relatives of Rebecca Larsen, who lost her life in a place she should have been safe, at the hands of her own brother. The senseless act left a permanent scar on the community and served as a tragic reminder of the devastating impact of domestic violence.