Police investigate fatal officer-involved shooting in Auburn

AUBURN, Wash. – Relatives have identified a man killed in an officer-involved shooting in Auburn Friday night as Travis Ell, 64.

Auburn police responded to a report of vandal breaking glass at a condominium complex in the 800 block of Pike Northeast just before 8:45 p.m. Friday.

Residents reported seeing a man smashing lights and breaking windows with an object in the parking lot, police said.

Police said they could not find the individual, but reported that many of the lights in the car port were broken.

Shortly after police showed up, a man appeared and threatened an officer, Steven Stocker, with the Auburn Police Department, said.

“The officer drew his weapon and fired and shot the suspect,” Stocker said.

The officer fired off three rounds, authorities said.

“If somebody would have been there all they would have had to say was ‘hey, he’s our neighbor,” neighbor Marie Desmarais said.

Desmarais thinks that is all it would have taken to prevent the tragedy.

“It got out of control,” Desmarais said. “He’s dead. He’s dead for light bulbs.”

According to family members, Ell was a brilliant, electrical engineer originally from Minot, North Dakota. He had several patents to his name.

But they acknowledge he was struggling with mental health issues and refusing treatment. He had lived in Auburn for more than 20 years.

People familiar with Ell constructed a memorial near where Ell died.

Neighbors said Ell often carried a sword or machete. Auburn police have not said whether he was carrying a weapon Friday night or if a weapon was recovered.

The officer is paid administrative leave. An outside agency is investigating.