Man shot, killed during confrontation with Kent police

KENT, Wash. — Four Kent police officers were placed on administrative leave after a 27-year-old man was shot and killed Monday morning.

At 4:13 a.m., Kent officers were called to a report of a car stopped in the middle of the 25200 block of Pacific Highway South near South 252nd Street, across from a Fred Meyer store.

The 911 caller said they believed the driver was under the influence.

When officers arrived at the scene, they pinned a black sports car in place using two police cruisers before attempting to wake the man behind the wheel. His foot was on the brake while the car was in gear, the Valley Independent Investigation Team said.

Investigators said when the man was awakened, officers were involved in a fight with the man.

During the struggle, an officer radioed the “male has a gun.” Moments later, an officer radioed that shots were fired, investigators stated.

“He was displaying a weapon. Shortly thereafter, shots were fired and the suspect was down,” Cmdr. Kurt Schwan, with the Valley Independent Investigation, said Monday.

Investigators said after the shooting, lifesaving measures were performed by officers, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

During the struggle, an officer suffered a cut, but no others were injured.

Schwan told KIRO 7 that a handgun was recovered from the inside of the car.

The shooting resulted in Pacific Highway South closing for hours.

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