SPOKANE – A firearm was found near shoplifting suspect Kelly Jones Hilberg’s body after she was shot to death Dec. 3 at a Walmart in north Spokane, according to a search warrant filed in Spokane County Superior Court. .
Jones-Hilberg was killed by Spokane police after resisting arrest and engaging them.
Investigators believe Jones-Hilberg was in possession of a gun. They claim the gun came from a 2021 vehicle prowling incident in Airway Heights.
New court documents also cite autopsy results showing Jones-Hilberg tested positive for methamphetamine.
The documents also mention Tyler Forrester, who allegedly tried to interfere with officers who were engaging Jones-Hillberg before the fatal shots were fired.
Forester was arrested on charges of third-degree assault on a law enforcement officer and obstructing a law enforcement officer.
He was booked into the Spokane County Jail on charges of obstruction of justice.
Nonstop Local met with Forrester at the county jail on Friday.
“I saw the officers tackle this guy, and I didn’t really understand why. This guy kept yelling, ‘Stop it, stop it, stop it,'” Forrester said. said.
Forrester maintains he only intervened to help someone who saw him being beaten.
He told Nonstop Local that he did not know Jones-Hilberg.
“…he [Jones-Hilburg] Screaming, screaming…and no one is doing anything but watching and filming this guy being beaten. It’s like blood is pouring out of his skull. he gets beaten up So I approached the cop. And I said, “Hello, teacher.” Didn’t attack him. I didn’t catch him. I didn’t corner him. I didn’t do anything like that. I just said, “Sir, you’re doing too much.” Then he just kept chasing other guys,” Forrester said.
Statements from Walmart Loss Prevention employees and witnesses helped identify Mr. Forrester, and the Spokane Independent Investigation and Response Team (SIIR) was able to establish probable cause to arrest Mr. Forrester.
“I feel like I’m being bullied. I feel like this is unfair punishment for what happened,” Forrester said.