Home » Armed ‘Antifascist’ Shot Dead: Willem Van Spronsen Wiki, Bio, Age, Family, Net Worth, Fast Facts You Need To Know
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Armed ‘Antifascist’ Shot Dead: Willem Van Spronsen Wiki, Bio, Age, Family, Net Worth, Fast Facts You Need To Know

July 15, 2019
4 Min Read

Willem Van Spronsen Wiki


Willem Van Spronsen was armed with a rifle threw incendiary devices at an immigration jail in Washington state early on Saturday morning, then was found dead after four police officers arrived and opened fire, authorities said.

Willem Van Spronsen Age

He was 69 years old

Willem Van Spronsen Friend Statement

A friend of the dead man said she thought he wanted to provoke a fatal conflict, the Seattle Times reported, and described him as an anarchist and anti-fascist.

Police Statement

The Tacoma police department said the officers responded about 4am to the privately run Tacoma Northwest Detention Centre, a Department of Homeland Security detention facility that holds migrants pending deportation proceedings.

Willem Van Spronsen Death


Police said officers called out to Van Spronsen and shots were fired.
Officers then located Van Spronsen and determined he had been shot and was dead. Authorities said investigators were processing the scene and police are continuing to investigate. No law enforcement officers were injured.

After the gunfire, officers took cover, contained the area and set up medical aid a short distance away, police said.

Officers then located the man and determined he had been shot and was dead at the scene.

Police Investigation Reports

Authorities say investigators are processing the scene and police are continuing to investigate. No law enforcement officers were injured.

The four Tacoma police officers who fired their weapons have been placed on paid administrative leave as is standard in officer-involved shootings.

The incident occurred just a day ahead of ICE’s planned national raids in 10 cities, targeting hundreds of immigrants who were given deportation orders. Nearby Seattle, however, is not one of those cities on the list.

Willem Van Spronsen Criminal History

Van Spronsen was accused of assaulting a police officer during a protest outside the detention centre, the News-Tribune reported. According to court documents he lunged at the officer who was trying to detain a 17-year-old protester on 26 June 2018.
Van Spronsen pleaded guilty to the charge of obstructing police and was given a deferred sentence in October, the News-Tribune reported.

Fast Facts You Need To Know

  • Willem Van Spronsen, 69 was armed with a rifle and threw incendiary devices at an immigration jail in Tacoma, Washington State 
  • The incident took place at 4am, six hours after a peaceful rally was held there 
  • Four police officers responded, warned the man verbally and opened fire 
  • The man was pronounced dead at the scene after having been shot
  • The officers were not wearing body cameras, but there is surveillance footage
  • It is unclear what the man’s motives were, however, a friend says Spronsen wanted to provoke  a fatal reaction and wrote a ‘manifesto’

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