Officer Karl Richardson Fatally Shoots Kerry Jones-Hilburg Inside North Spokane Walmart

Police have identified the officer who shot and killed a man inside a Walmart in North Spokane over the weekend. Officer Karl Richardson fired his gun at and killed 34-year-old Kerry Jones-Hilburg on December 3, 2023. Richardson, a Spokane native, joined the Spokane Police Department in 2019 after serving as a police officer in Montana for three years.

The incident occurred when Richardson and another officer responded to a request for backup for shoplifting prevention. The officers confronted Jones-Hilburg, who was later identified as the suspect. A prolonged physical confrontation took place when Jones-Hilburg was approached about the alleged shoplifting. At some point, someone yelled “Gun,” and Richardson fired his firearm, fatally shooting Jones-Hilburg.

The Spokane Independent Investigative Response Team is currently investigating the shooting. Police have not provided any further details about the incident. However, they did confirm that both officers were injured during the fight but were not shot. One officer was taken to the hospital for treatment, while the condition of the other officer is unknown. No one else in the store was harmed.

During the investigation, a gun, ammunition, and discharged tasers were found in the area where the incident took place.

Shoplifting prevention is a regular focus for the Spokane Police Department, with on-duty officers regularly assigned to stores to deter such activities. It is unclear whether Richardson was working on shoplifter prevention at the time of the incident.

The shooting has raised questions and concerns in the community, and the investigation will provide more clarity on the circumstances surrounding the incident. The Spokane Police Department will need to ensure transparency and accountability in handling the case to maintain public trust.