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Suspect dead after deputy-involved shooting in Kent

A suspect in a stolen Honda Civic was killed Thursday morning after he reached for a rifle and was shot by a King County Sheriff's deputy, investigators said.

The incident happened shortly before 9 a.m. in the 300 block of Railroad Avenue North, the transit center in Kent.

The deputy was running license plates in a parking garage -- a common practice for deputies and officers -- and found the car was reported stolen.

The deputy fired after the suspect reached for a rifle, Sheriff's Office spokesman Sgt. Ryan Abbott said.

"The deputy attempted to take the driver (suspect) into custody," Abbott said in a written statement. "The suspect, an 18 year old Hispanic male, armed himself with an AR-15 rifle. He started to struggle with the deputy inside and then outside of the vehicle. The deputy fired a single shot at the suspect striking him once. The suspect was provided first aid at the scene and was transported by King County Medics to Harborview."

The teen died Thursday morning at Harborview Medical Center.

"A passenger in the stolen vehicle fled the scene but was located a short distance away by Kent PD and was arrested," Abbott said. "A third suspect who was associated with the car, but was not in it at the time of contact, also fled the area but was arrested by Kent PD as well.  Both suspects, ages 18 and 22 (passenger), were booked into the [Regional Justice Center] for investigation of possession of a stolen vehicle."

The names of those involved were not immediately released, though Abbott said the deputy was a 28-year veteran. It is not clear how many shots were fired. Investigators were trying to clear the scene Thursday, but said it may affect evening commuters.

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