Man Shot by Deputies After Fire in Spokane Valley Motel

SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. (AP) — A man who barricaded himself inside a room at a burning motel in Spokane Valley has been shot by law enforcement officers.

Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich called the incident an attempt at suicide-by-cop.

The Spokesman-Review reports that firefighters were called to the Motel 6 in Spokane Valley early Wednesday morning.

While most of the building was evacuated, one man refused to come out of his room.

Knezovich says the fire is believed to have started in that man's room. The man told deputies that they would have to shoot him.

Knezovich says the man eventually came out of the room and approached deputies with a knife. He was shot several times and was taken to a hospital.

Knezovich says all other motel guests evacuated safely.