Dwight Steward, 46

Spokane, Washington
January 23, 2019

Agencies: Spokane Police Department - Washington

Cause of death: Shooting

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Last updated: over 4 years ago

Overview

Assistant Police Chief Justin Lundgren said the Spokane Police Department received a call at 3:35 p.m. on Jan. 23, 2019 about a man threatening people with a gun. When officers arrived on scene, they were unable to locate the suspect and began searching the area.

Shortly after they arrived on scene, officers got another call saying the man had returned to the location. 

Lundgren said officers contacted the man, who was armed with a knife, and started giving him verbal commands. 

Authorities said the officers tried to de-escalate the situation but the man began walking toward the officers. Lundgren said that is when shots were fired.  Officers immediately began life-saving treatment but the man, identified as 46-year-old Dwight Steward, later died.

According to an evidence list, police recovered six knives from the scene, including a machete and a "fixed blade knife with metal knuckles." Other knives included a "wood handle folding knife," a knife that had been wrapped in duct tape, a folding knife with a black handle and a "fixed blade knife with curved blade."

Steward had approached the officers and produced two knives from his waistband after ignoring commands, according to a probable cause declaration in court documents. It is unclear which knives listed as evidence were the ones Steward pulled on officers.

Legal Action

Spokane County announced in May 2019 that the two officers involved in the shooting will not face charges.

Community and Family Efforts

Spokane NAACP President Kurtis Robinson said in a release in January 2019 that he had spoken with the Spokane Police Department about the incident and that the group is waiting for more details.