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Suspect dead after firing on police

| March 27, 2010 9:00 PM

SPOKANE - A 46-year-old Spokane man died Friday morning after he fired a gun at police officers who were responding to a threat call on the city's South Hill.

Spokane police were dispatched to a home in the 4100 block of East 36th about 6 a.m. when a neighbor of the complainant called him and warned him that the suspect had driven up and was outside his house, a press release said.

The complainant and suspect reportedly have been in an ongoing dispute over some firearms and the suspect had previously made threats against the complainant, the release said.

"The complainant told 911 that he believed the suspect was armed," the release said. "He also stated that he had guns in his home and had armed himself. Because of the elevating nature of the call, sheriff's deputies began responding to assist."

As officers arrived at the scene and approached the house, the suspect began firing at one of them. That officer retreated and returned fire. The suspect was struck and collapsed in the yard of the complainant's home, police said.

The suspect was restrained and then treated by paramedics, but was pronounced dead at a downtown hospital shortly afterward.

The name of the suspect is being withheld until release by the Spokane County Medical Examiner's Office, police said.

An autopsy is scheduled today.