‘Tragic’ series of events led Seattle police to kill elderly man

Seattle Police say it was a tragic series of events that led officers to shoot and kill an elderly South Seattle man who suffered from dementia.

Henry Lee Sr., 77, was shot to death on the doorstep of his South Bangor Street home late Sunday night.

According to police, Lee was alarmed by a fire department aid call outside his home and messaged his medical alert service to say he suspected a prowler. The service told a 911 dispatcher that Lee had armed himself with a gun and “if anyone tried to come into his home, he would kill them,” Deputy Chief Nick Metz told reporters at a briefing Tuesday morning.

Metz said Lee stood in his doorway and pointed a silver handgun at three Seattle police officers as they approached his residence.

“The officers yelled at him several times to ‘Drop the gun! Drop the gun!’ Metz said. “Mr. Lee took the weapon down to his side and then raised the weapon back up. And then when he raised the weapon back up, two of the three officers fired their weapons.”

Those officers were identified Tuesday as Daina Boggs, a 19-year veteran, and Nate Patterson, who has been with the department for seven years. Both have been placed on administrative reassignment.

The third officer, a 19-year veteran, did not fire his weapon and was not identified as per department policy.

All three officers were assigned to the South Precinct.

“This was a case of extreme tragedy,” said Seattle Police Chief John Diaz. “A series of events all came together at this intersection and led to this tragedy.”

The event was set into motion when a man who may have suffered a medical episode abandoned his vehicle outside of Mr. Lee’s home. He later returned to his car and was treated by fire department medics. One of his shoes was discovered on Lee’s porch where he may have wandered or gone for help. Metz said it could explain why Mr. Lee told his medical alert service he feared there was a prowler outside his home.

Lee’s family has said he had dementia and lived alone.

“I don’t think anybody believes that there was any evil intent on Mr. Lee’s part. He was scared, he was confused,” Metz said. “But unfortunately, he ended up creating danger to our officers at that time.”

King County is expected to launch an inquest into the shooting, which will help prosecutors determine whether there was criminal wrongdoing.

The killing was the first by a Seattle officer since Oct. 2011, and comes at a time of enhanced scrutiny of use-of-force incidents by Seattle police.

In July, city officials agreed to an independent monitor and court oversight of the police department. It was part of a settlement with the Department of Justice following a report that found officers had a “pattern or practice” of using excessive force.