Two Washington state sheriff’s deputies who served together in the National Guard were shot dead side by side as they moved in to rescue a potential hostage — in a standoff where the gunman also killed his mother and sister.
Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputies Mason Acheson, 35, and Parker Perry, 29, were both shot as they entered the home near Spangle, just south of Spokane, with the department’s SWAT team around 3:15 p.m. on Nov. 3, the department said.
Law enforcement arrived at 2:25 p.m. after a woman called to report she had been shot in a domestic violence incident.
Police quickly learned that other victims may still have been inside and were warned that the suspect had an active felony warrant and may have had access to firearms, officials said.
Fearing for the victims’ safety, SWAT officers and deputies moved in to enter the home — and were “ambushed” with gunfire from inside, critically wounding Acheson and Perry, officials said.
After the two deputies were shot, their teammates returned fire at the suspect and pulled the wounded men to cover, where they began administering lifesaving care.
Following the gunfight, law enforcement called in medical helicopters to rush Acheson and Perry to the hospital, officials said.
Acheson died at the hospital, while Perry was kept on life support so his organs could be donated before he died Nov. 7.
The sheriff’s office said Perry will “continue to serve others with the gift of life” through his organ donation.
Both deputies are survived by their wives and two children each — and Perry’s wife is expecting their third child.
A drone sent into the home eventually found the suspect dead after Spokane police took control of the scene and SWAT units from Spokane and Kootenai County arrived, the Washington State Patrol said.
The suspect, Ryan Larsen, 37, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the Spokane County medical examiner ruled, according to The Spokesman-Review.
His mother, Suzanne Larsen, 72, and his sister, Rebecca Larsen, 45, were also found dead, the medical examiner said, and a family obituary confirmed their relationship to him, the outlet reported.
The woman who reported the shooting was taken to a hospital, where her injuries were believed to be non-life-threatening, officials said.
Acheson and Perry were commended for their unwavering bravery as they “moved toward danger to protect others they did not know,” the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office said.
“They did this with honor and with an unwavering sense of duty to their oath to serve and protect the citizens of Spokane County; they heroically placed themselves in mortal danger,” the department said.
“They are true examples of selfless service and dedication. They are the epitome of what the men and women in law enforcement are; they are the best of all of us.”
The two deputies also shared a bond outside the department, serving in the 81st Brigade’s 1-161st Infantry Battalion, the sheriff’s office said.
Acheson enlisted in 2011, rose to sergeant and served in Poland from 2021 to 2022.
A graduate of the Army’s sniper course, he competed in Army sniper competitions.
His decorations included three Army Commendation Medals, an Army Achievement Medal, three Army Reserve Component Achievement Medals, a National Defense Service Medal and an Armed Forces Reserve Medal with an “M” device for mobilization.
He spent eight years as a Washington State Patrol trooper and firearms instructor before joining the sheriff’s office in 2022, where he became a SWAT sniper.
“[Acheson] dedicated himself to serving others in both the military and law enforcement, leaving a lasting impact through his selfless commitment to service,” the department said.
Before joining the sheriff’s office, Perry earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Carroll College in Montana.
He joined the Washington Army National Guard in 2017 and rose to captain as a military intelligence officer with the battalion.
He earned two Army Commendation Medals and an Armed Forces Service Medal.
He joined the sheriff’s office in 2020 and spent three years on its SWAT team before becoming a K-9 deputy in 2025.
Perry responded to the call with his K-9 partner, Brego, and “joined his teammates and moved toward the house,” officials said.
“During this attempted rescue, he bravely forced entry, knowing that there was danger inside to protect another,” the department said.
Acheson and Perry’s deaths resonated far beyond Washington, as FBI Director Kash Patel honored each deputy in separate posts on X.
Patel highlighted the deputies’ military service and pledged the bureau’s support to their loved ones and colleagues: “They will have our full support.”
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson also ordered flags at state facilities to be lowered to half-staff Monday to honor the fallen deputies.
