KENT, Wash. — A man died in a shooting involving a Kent officer on Tuesday.
The Kent Police Department said around 12:19 p.m., Kent officers were sent to a report of “suspicious circumstances” where two men left a car in the driveway of the 911 caller’s house.
The men reportedly said they were out of gas and walked off to the gas station located at 272nd and Military Road South.
Officers found out the car left behind in the driveway was reported stolen. Officers confronted the men and one of them ran eastbound on foot. Officers chased him on foot into a nearby neighborhood.
When officers got closer, an officer relayed over the radio that the man had a knife.
The man ran behind a house in the 27200 block of 33rd Place South.
According to KPD, “Officers caught up to him and a short time later an officer aired that shots were fired. "
Kent officers tried to save the man’s life until Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority and King County Medics arrived to take over. But the man did not survive and was pronounced dead at the scene.
“No officers were injured during this incident and in compliance with standard protocol, the officer involved will be placed on paid administrative leave,” said KPD.
The other man did not run from police and was taken into custody without incident and is being booked on a pre-existing traffic warrant.
We spoke with the president of the Islamic Center of Federal Way, which is located a couple of doors down from the house.
He said they were getting ready for prayer when this all happened, just before 1:30 p.m.
“I saw a bunch of cops and their cars here and then I drove inside to say my prayer,” said the President of the Islamic Center of Federal Way, Nadeem Ahmee. “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.”
The Valley Independent Investigation Team was called in to investigate. Port of Seattle Detectives have been assigned as the lead investigators.
“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,” said Ahmee.