Sheriff’s deputies cleared in Spokane Valley shooting

Two Spokane County deputies have been cleared in a shooting death that took place in Spokane Valley last September. Deputies Aaron Childress and Eric Werner responded to a kidnapping report on Sept. 5 at 1309 N. Skipworth Court. A 69-year-old woman reported Edward S. Gover, 47, her boyfriend, had stabbed her in the arm and held her captive the night before while they were arguing. The woman told deputies that Gover demanded she hand over a pistol she kept in a safe and also threatened to kill himself and her before leaving the residence in her black Mercedes. Gover returned to the home while deputies were taking reports, but he turned the car around and fled, ditching the car a block away. The deputies returned to the home, fearing he might return. Childress told investigators he saw Gover’s head rise above a 6-foot vinyl fence, then Gover jumped the fence and advanced on the home. The deputies said Gover appeared to be hiding a weapon. He refused commands and said something about having a knife. Werner said he saw something in Gover’s right hand that appeared to be a knife. Werner aimed at Gover and shot at the same time Childress fired five times. Gover was declared dead at the scene. After Gover fell, deputies discovered the item in his hand was a key fob for the Mercedes. The Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office has reviewed the case and has determined charges will not be filed. The case was investigated by the Spokane Investigative Regional Response Team made up of Spokane Police Department, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office and the Washington State Patrol. The prosecutor’s office determined Gover told deputies, “that he had a knife and was going to kill Deputy Childress and Deputy Childress was going to have to kill him. Mr. Gover made like he had a knife in his hand, hid it behind his back, then advanced, described by both deputies as charging, within five to 10 feet of Deputy Childress.”