Spokane Valley Library Shooting: Man Killed Near Ballot Drop Box as Police Investigate

A man was fatally shot near Spokane Valley Library on November 3, 2026. Police detained a suspect, investigated the circumstances and said there was no ongoing threat to the public.

Fatal Shooting Near Spokane Valley Library

A fatal shooting near the Spokane Valley Library in Washington on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, prompted a major police response and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of one man.

The incident occurred at approximately 11:30 a.m. near the intersection of North Herald Road and East Sprague Avenue, close to the library and a ballot drop box. Officers and emergency responders arrived after reports of gunfire. The victim was found with a gunshot wound, and lifesaving efforts were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said another individual was detained in connection with the shooting. The victim’s identity and the motive had not been publicly established in the initial reports.

What Police Said About the Investigation

Spokane Valley Police Chief Dave Ellis described the incident as isolated and said authorities did not believe there was an ongoing threat to the public.

Investigators also said they had not established a connection between the shooting and the nearby ballot drop box. Although a firearm was recovered in the area, police had not confirmed whether it was the weapon used in the shooting.

Reports indicated that a person contacted law enforcement and claimed involvement before officers located and detained that individual. Being detained does not, by itself, establish guilt or confirm that formal charges have been filed.

Library Closure and Ballot Drop Box Access

The Spokane Valley Library closed early at approximately 1:30 p.m. as the investigation continued. The nearby ballot drop boxes remained accessible, according to the reports.

Police established road closures around the scene while investigators gathered evidence and examined the area. Residents and motorists were asked to avoid the affected streets and follow directions from responding officers.

A Separate Fatal Shooting on Spokane’s South Hill

The Spokane Valley incident was separate from another fatal shooting in Spokane the previous day, November 2, near 53rd Avenue and Fiske Court on the South Hill.

Police responded shortly before 5 a.m. and found 26-year-old Rashad McGuffey suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene. His family identified him to local media and said he was a father to an eight-year-old daughter.

On November 3, Spokane police announced that 25-year-old Modesto R. Briggs had been arrested and booked into the Spokane County Jail on suspicion of second-degree murder. Police said the men knew each other and had previously been involved in disputes. The arrest relates to the South Hill case, not the shooting near Spokane Valley Library.

Investigation and What Remains Unknown

The Spokane Valley Library shooting and the South Hill killing were two distinct incidents. Authorities had not established a connection between them.

In the library case, investigators had not publicly identified the deceased man or announced a motive in their initial statements. The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation was ongoing and that the detained individual had not been formally arrested at that stage.

The South Hill investigation, by contrast, had resulted in Briggs being booked on suspicion of second-degree murder. That remains an allegation to be addressed through the legal process.

Both incidents have brought grief to families and concern to residents. Further official information may clarify the circumstances of the library shooting and provide updates on the South Hill case.

Key Incident Details

Editorial Note: These were separate shootings in different parts of the Spokane area. The South Hill arrest should not be presented as an arrest connected to the Spokane Valley Library death. The library victim’s identity and the motive in that case had not been publicly confirmed in the initial reports reviewed.