End of Watch: 04/03/1892
Agency: Whitman County Sheriff’s Office
County: Whitman County
On Friday, April 1, 1892, Deputy William Spencer of the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office was shot while attempting to arrest a horse thief.
Deputy Spencer and another deputy had located the suspect at Fort Spokane. As Deputy Spencer called out to the suspect to place him under arrest, the suspect suddenly spun around and opened fire. Deputy Spencer was wounded, but both deputies opened fire on the suspect and killed him.
Two days after the shooting, and after Deputy Spencer’s arm was amputated, he died from complications of his gunshot wounds on April 3, 1892.
Deputy Spencer is survived by his wife and child.