Lakewood standoff suspect makes court appearance

LAKEWOOD, Wash. — Devin Konecny walked into a Pierce County courtroom with a bandaged arm, wounded by a police sharpshooter during a long standoff.
 
Konecny, 28, is a convicted sex offender who now faces assault charges after police say he shot at them when they attempted to arrest him on charges of failing to register. He was convicted of child rape in 2007.
 
Lakewood police showed up at Konecny's apartment early Sunday to arrest him on outstanding warrants. Police say when Konecny's grandfather let them into an apartment to look for him he fired several shots.
 
"He was shooting at them with a .22 from a hidden location within the apartment," said Lakewood police Lt. Chris Lawler. "The officers backed off because they couldn't see him."
 
A SWAT team was called surrounding the apartment complex.
 
"It was kind of terrifying," said eyewitness Kim Forrester. "There was five different police agencies here, there was SWAT here. All because a sex offender didn't register."
 
Jan Whitledge also watched the lengthy standoff.
 
"I saw the big tank with a sniper on top and then went around the back and blew about eight or nine tear gas [canisters] in there and shot three times," Whitledge said.
 
Finally, a police sharpshooter shot and wounded Konecny after nearly eight hours. Police said he surrendered without further resistance.
 
In addition to child rape, Konecny has two robbery convictions, convictions for drug possession and unlawful possession of a firearm.  The assault charges are considered a third strike offense. If convicted he could be sentenced to life in prison.

Cox Media Group