Suspected Car Thief Shot, Killed By Police Officer

SPOKANE — A 22-year-old man was shot and killed by police Tuesday night when he ran from police and shot a K-9 twice.

At 10:20 Tuesday night Spokane Police tried to stop the driver of a Honda for reckless driving, but the driver took off down division until the car hit a median. The driver, identified as Johnnie Longest, ran from the scene.

Officers chased Longest across Division and called for a K-9 backup. The dog caught up with Longest in an alley between Altantic St. and Division St.

Police say the dog and Longest began to struggle when Longest then pulled out a handgun and shot the dog twice, once in the leg and once in the face.

An officer then shot at Longest, hitting him once. Witnesses report hearing between four and eight shots.  Longest was taken to the hospital with one bullet wound, and he later died from his injuries.

The K-9 unit was taken to a Veterinary Hospital on E. Mission Ave. One of the bullets is lodged in the dog’s left leg and will require surgery to remove. Police say an Orthopedic Specialist will operate on the dog at 8:30am Wednesday morning.

A perimeter is still set up around the area where the shooting took place, and several streets have been blocked off, including Division St. between Longfellow Ave. and Heroy Ave.

The name of the officer who shot the suspect and the name of the dog will not be released until 72 hours after the incident occurred, as per protocol with the Spokane Police Department.

Since Spokane Police Department officers were involved in the incident, Spokane County Major Crimes Detectives have been called in to head up the investigation.

They say Longest was trying to elude police because the car he was driving was listed as stolen and that he used a shaved key to steal the car.