A 34-year-old man shot and killed by a Spokane police officer at a north Spokane Walmart over the weekend was in possession of a stolen gun and had methamphetamine in his system, according to court documents.
According to search warrant documents filed Friday in Spokane County Superior Court and the Spokane Police Department, Officer Carl Richardson, who has been with the Spokane Police Department since 2019, arrested Kelly at the store at 9212 N. Colton St. on Sunday morning. He shot Jones-Hilberg in the chest.
Two Spokane police officers observed Jones-Hilberg using a magnetic key to remove security locks from secured items inside the store, documents said.
Two officers approached Jones-Hilberg inside the store after he failed to pay for the items, according to court records. Body camera footage taken by one of the officers showed Jones-Hilberg struggling with officers and then using a stun gun several times. Jones-Hilberg continued to resist and fled.
The struggle continued from the north door of the Walmart to the south door about 100 yards away, according to documents. Body cameras appeared to show that Jones-Hilberg was at least slowed down with a stun gun and knocked to the floor by one of the officers before exiting the store.
Still, the fight continued. Seconds later, one of the officers yelled, “He has a gun,” and the suspect yelled back, “No, he doesn’t.”
Jones-Hilberg got on all fours and then raised his hands toward his chest, the documents said. Body camera footage from that point showed the outline of a firearm that appeared to be in a shoulder holster along with an additional magazine. The gun was hanging in front of where the suspect had raised his hands.
Investigators said in documents that Richardson fired one shot at Jones-Hilberg. He continued to be uncooperative even as officers begged him to comply so he could receive medical treatment.
Jones-Hilberg was taken into custody after he began to lose consciousness and was able to receive medical treatment, documents said. Items from several stores taken by the suspect were collected from his clothing and surroundings.
Surveillance footage from Walmart showed Jones-Hilberg removing the security device and hiding items in his jacket pocket, court records show. The footage also showed what appeared to be a partially concealed firearm on the suspect’s right side. The gun was stored in a manner consistent with a shoulder holster, and the butt of the gun was visible in the footage. Documents say the gun was stolen during a vehicle wander in Airway Heights in 2021.
A urine sample taken from Jones-Hillberg during the autopsy yielded “presumptive positive results” for amphetamines and methamphetamines.
Tyler Forrester, 33, is accused of assaulting one of the officers, Dylan Pavlisiak, inside the store as the two officers tried to arrest Jones-Hilberg.
Detectives said in a probable cause affidavit that Forrester approached Pavlishak from behind and used his left arm to slam into the officer, causing Pavlishak to change direction and face Forrester. The confrontation prevented Pavlishak from trying to arrest Jones-Hilberg, the documents said.
A witness who saw cellphone video of the scuffle online identified Forrester and told police he saw Forrester and Jones-Hilberg interacting.
Forester was booked into the Spokane County Jail on Wednesday on charges of third-degree assault on a police officer and interfering with a police officer. Mr. Forrester made his first appearance in Spokane County Superior Court on Thursday, and his arraignment is scheduled for Dec. 19. Forester remained in jail Friday on $5,000 bail.
The Spokane Independent Investigation and Response Team is investigating the shooting.