SWAT officers end 5-hour standoff with suspect in Lake City
May 15, 2025, 10:11 AM | Updated: 3:57 pm
A SWAT team was deployed in Lake City after a suspect barricaded himself with three girls. (Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)
(Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)
Seattle Police Department’s (SPD) SWAT and a Hostage Negotiation Team arrested a suspect following a multiple-hour standoff in the 12500 block of Lake City Way Northeast in Lake City.
Patrol Officers, SWAT, and HNT are attempting to take a suspect into custody in the 12500 block of Lake City Way Northeast. Please be safe and avoid the area.
— Seattle Police Department (@SeattlePD) May 15, 2025
The Seattle Police Department (SPD) said this situation couldn’t have ended any better, as the standoff ended peacefully despite lasting for more than five hours. The standoff ended without incident just before 12 p.m.
“What I can tell you, confirmed and verified, is that he is in custody and no force was used by our officers or the SWAT Team,” SPD Detective Eric Munoz told KIRO Newsradio.
SWAT dispatched after man barricades himself
SWAT’s involvement came after a 51-year-old man fired at a car just after 6 a.m. Thursday.
The suspect barricaded himself in an apartment on 125th Street and Lake City Way. Meanwhile, SPD’s SWAT Team and hostage negotiators were dispatched to the scene.
“I get a text message that says Kirsten, we have an active police situation in your building,” neighbor Kirsten told KIRO Newsradio. “For your safety, stay in your apartment and lock your doors,” neighbor Kirsten said.
SPD confirmed no one was injured in the shooting. Hostage negotiators were in constant contact with the suspect, whom they knew to be a convicted murderer. Police also learned there were three girls, ages unknown, inside the apartment. Police did not believe the girls were hostages, although officers did not know the relationship between the girls and the man.
“This suspect is believed to have a previous felony conviction for murder in the second degree,” Munoz said before the man surrendered. “We have probable cause to arrest him for unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful discharge of a firearm, and he does have a Thurston County no-bail felony warrant.”
With neighbors on edge, SPD hostage negotiators were in constant contact with the suspect.
“Ultimately, they’re just trying to negotiate a peaceful surrender to bring this gentleman into custody,” Munoz said. “We have a tactical element on scene. They have set up a security containment around the area with the assistance of patrol resources. We are basically containing this area for the safety of the public while we try to negotiate a peaceful surrender of this gentleman.”
There is probable cause for the man’s arrest for investigation of unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful discharge of a firearm, and for a pending felony warrant.
Contributing: Jonah Oaklief and Frank Sumrall, MyNorthwest; James Lynch, KIRO Newsradio
