Hundreds attend memorial for Wash. pastor killed by deputy; investigation of shooting ongoing

Memorial held for Wash. pastor killed by deputy

SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — Hundreds gathered Monday at a memorial service for a western Washington pastor fatally shot by a sheriff’s deputy.

The service at the Baptist church founded by 74-year-old Wayne Scott Creach included only a brief mention of the questions surrounding Creach’s death late Wednesday.

Colleague Eric Walsh and others spoke of a man whose principles attracted people to both his church and his nursery, the Plant Farm.

Also Monday, Spokane police identified the officer who shot Creach as Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputy Brian Hirzel, who is assigned to work in the city of Spokane Valley.

Police and the Washington State Patrol are investigating.

Officer Jennifer DeRuwe says Hirzel had parked his patrol car at the Plant Farm parking lot, and a confrontation between him and Creach ensued. The pastor was hit by a single gunshot.

Information from: The Spokesman-Review, www.spokesman.com