A deep sense of duty and a commitment to protecting others defined the life of Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputy Mason Acheson, a 35-year-old male who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. His dedicated service to his community and country came to a tragic end on November 3, 2026, in the small farming town of Spangle, Washington, when he was killed while responding to a violent domestic dispute that escalated into a mass shooting.
Born in Leavenworth and raised near Colville, Mason’s life was one of service from an early age. He enlisted in the Washington Army National Guard in 2011, where he rose to the rank of Sergeant and became a skilled sniper, even competing in Army sniper competitions. His military career included a deployment to Poland from 2021 to 2022 and earned him numerous accolades, including three Army Commendation Medals.
Before joining the Spokane County Sheriff's Office on July 17, 2022, he served the public as a Washington State Patrol trooper and firearms instructor for eight years. In Spokane County, he was a valued member of the Downtown Dayshift platoon and proudly served as a SWAT sniper, providing overwatch for his team members.
The call that led to Deputy Acheson's death came in at approximately 2:25 p.m. on that Tuesday afternoon. A woman had fled to a neighbor's house on South Smythe Road, reporting that her brother, 37-year-old Ryan T. Larsen, had shot her. She was concerned for the well-being of her mother and another sister who were still at the residence. When deputies arrived, they learned Larsen had an active felony warrant and might have access to firearms. A drone search of the property revealed a deceased woman in the yard, escalating the urgency of the situation.
Believing more victims were in immediate danger inside the home, the Spokane County SWAT Team, including Deputy Acheson, was called to assist. At about 3:15 p.m., as the team attempted to make an emergency entry to rescue potential hostages, they were ambushed. Larsen opened fire from inside the house as law enforcement breached the door, striking Deputy Acheson and his partner, Deputy Parker Perry. Other deputies returned fire and worked desperately to move their critically injured colleagues to safety while administering first aid.
Both deputies were airlifted to Sacred Heart Medical Center. Deputy Acheson succumbed to his injuries that night. Deputy Perry, also critically wounded, was placed on life support and died a short time later. The tragic event claimed a total of five lives. Inside the home, investigators found the bodies of Larsen's mother, 72-year-old Suzanne Larsen, and his sister, 45-year-old Rebecca Larsen. The sister who had initially escaped survived with non-life-threatening injuries.
The standoff concluded after a drone was sent into the residence, revealing that Ryan T. Larsen had died from what was presumed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The Spokane Independent Investigative Response Team, led by the Washington State Patrol, took over the investigation into the officer-involved shooting.
The loss of Deputy Mason Acheson devastated his family, colleagues, and the wider community. He was remembered as a hero who dedicated his life to serving others and who bravely moved toward danger to protect people he did not know. The Spokane County Sheriff's Office described him and Deputy Perry as "true examples of selfless service and dedication" and "the best of all of us." Mason Acheson is survived by his wife and two young children, who are left to navigate a future without their husband and father.
