A man was shot dead by a Washington State Patrol trooper following a violent confrontation on the northbound side of I-5 in Everett, which left the major thoroughfare closed for hours late into the night.
The incident occurred shortly after 4 p.m., as reported by FOX 13 Seattle. The suspect allegedly initiated a road rage episode, culminating in him ramming his vehicle into a Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) construction vehicle and lift stationed on the highway's shoulder. According to the Snohomish County Multiple Agency Response Team (SMART), two WSDOT workers were inside the lift at the time.
Armed with a hammer, the suspect engaged in a physical altercation with a WSDOT employee and a state trooper, SMART detailed. "During that altercation, a WSP trooper shot the suspect," said the team, as reported by KING 5 News. Although law enforcement immediately rendered aid, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
The shooting investigation, led by SMART, caused a significant delay on the interstate, with the lanes only reopening just before midnight. A video of the event surfaced, capturing the moments leading up to the fatal shooting, as noted by KOMO News. It shows the suspect fleeing across the interstate before the altercation ensued. As a result of the encounter, a Department of Transportation employee sustained non-life-threatening injuries, however, their current condition remains undetermined.
Further updates on the case will be contingent on the findings of the ongoing investigation. The identity of the deceased has not been released pending notification of next of kin.
