1 person killed in officer-involved shooting in Kent
Oct 24, 2023, 5:22 PM | Updated: 7:45 pm
(Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)
(Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)
The Kent Police Department (KPD) shot and killed a car theft suspect Tuesday afternoon in the backyard of a home near Star Lake, according to a department statement.
Officers stated the suspect was armed with a knife and was trying to run from them.
At 12:19 p.m., officers were dispatched to “a report of suspicious circumstance” in which two male subjects left a vehicle in the driveway of the 911 caller’s residence. The subjects reportedly stated they were out of gas and walked off to the gas station located at 272nd and Military Road S, the department said.
Officers learned the vehicle left behind in the driveway was reported stolen. The officers confronted the suspects and one of them ran from the scene. Officers chased the suspect into a nearby neighborhood. While officers got closer, another officer relayed over the radio that the suspect had a knife.
The suspect continued to flee, running behind a house located in the 3600 block of S 262nd St. Officers eventually caught up to him and, a short time later, an officer aired that shots were fired.
Immediate lifesaving efforts were performed by the officers at the scene until Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority and King County paramedics arrived to take over. Ultimately, the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene, KPD reported.
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No officers were injured during this incident and in compliance with standard protocol, the officer who fired his gun will be placed on paid administrative leave.
The other suspect, who didn’t try to escape, was taken into custody without incident and is being booked on a pre-existing traffic warrant.
The Valley Independent Investigation Team was called in to conduct a probe of the incident. Port of Seattle Detectives have been assigned as the lead investigators.
KIRO 7 spoke with Nadeem Ahmee, the president of the Islamic Center of Federal Way, which is located a couple of doors down from the house in question.
He said they were getting ready for prayer when this all happened.
“I saw a bunch of cops and their cars here and then I drove inside to say my prayer,” Ahmee said. “I know nothing about this but this is kind of scary, as being concerned about the safety of the neighborhood, so that’s why we came to know about someone at the gas station ran this way and officers chased him.
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“It’s emotional and always very tough when somebody gets shot and dies in front of your property, so it’s very sad and shouldn’t happen this way,” Ahmee said to KIRO 7.
Contributing: KIRO 7; Steve Coogan
