In the early morning hours of November 26, 2021, a Thanksgiving gathering in a Spokane Valley home turned tragic, ending the life of 29-year-old Destin Cooper, a Caucasian male. The night, which had been characterized by alcohol and drug use, including cocaine and acid, took a dark and unexpected turn. Friends had gathered at the South Evergreen Road home of 30-year-old Zachary R. McGlocklin for what was described as a group hangout.
Cooper and a few others arrived at the residence around 2 a.m. to join the ongoing party in the basement.
According to witnesses, the atmosphere was peaceful, with no apparent arguments or tension preceding the violence. Suddenly and without provocation, McGlocklin is said to have left the room and returned with a black semi-automatic Glock handgun. He then began shooting, seemingly at random, causing the other partygoers to dive for cover behind furniture. Witnesses reported hearing between six and ten gunshots. In the chaos, Destin Cooper was seen falling onto a coffee table with what appeared to be a neck injury. One witness later told investigators they heard McGlocklin utter a profane statement to Cooper about the quality of his cocaine.
As the gunfire ceased, the surviving attendees fled the basement and the house to call for help. Spokane County Sheriff's deputies responded to the scene at approximately 4:30 a.m. and discovered Cooper's body on the basement floor with injuries to his head and neck. He was pronounced dead at the scene. McGlocklin was detained at the residence and taken in for questioning. He initially claimed that Cooper had been the one to produce a firearm and shoot at him, though he admitted to never actually seeing a gun in Cooper's possession. Investigators found a 9mm semi-automatic Glock with an empty magazine in the basement, along with six spent casings and numerous live cartridges.
Zachary R. McGlocklin was arrested and initially charged with first-degree murder and second-degree assault. In February 2024, he pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and three counts of second-degree assault. A Spokane County Superior Court judge subsequently sentenced the then 32-year-old McGlocklin to 15 years in prison for the fatal shooting of Destin Cooper. Friends and family remembered Cooper as a caring and funny individual with a big heart, whose life was unexpectedly and tragically cut short.
