Washington State Department of Social and Health Services

09/27/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/27/2025 16:47

Statement on Shooting Death of Employee at Eastern State Hospital

Our hearts are heavy today as we grieve the violent and tragic loss of one of our employees at Eastern State Hospital. We send our heartfelt support to the victim's loved ones and to our dedicated employees and patients who are affected by this loss.

The lockdown at Eastern State Hospital campus is lifted. All patients and other employees are accounted for. We are working closely with local law enforcement and Gov. Ferguson's office in response to this incident. We appreciate their quick response and their continued presence and support. Please look for updates on the incident from Spokane County Sheriff's Office. When DSHS and Eastern State Hospital have additional updates, you can find them on our website.

Washington State Department of Social and Health Services published this content on September 27, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on September 27, 2025 at 22:47 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]