An overnight police shooting in Kent ended with a 34-year-old male suspect dead after officers responded to reports of gunshots. The Kent Police Department confirmed to FOX 13 News that the incident occurred before 1 a.m. today on Madison Avenue North. The scene at the Madison Plaza apartments was cordoned off shortly after officers arrived.
According to police reports, a 911 call was placed by a person who claimed to have heard 6 to 7 gunshots. When officers got to quickly respond, they reportedly heard more gunshots, believed to be aimed at them. In the sequence of events that unfolded, one officer decided to return fire towards the suspect located on an upper story of the building, as reported by KIRO 7.
The investigation into the shooting is being led by the Valley Independent Investigative Team, with no officers reported injured in the incident. A relative of the suspect was detained during the search, who revealed that the suspect had apparently taken his own life inside the unit. Despite medics arriving and rendering aid, the efforts were to no avail as the individual succumbed to his wounds at the scene. This information was corroborated by details in a report from MyNorthwest.
As the community grapples with the traumatic event, the officer involved in the shooting will be placed on administrative leave, which is standard protocol. The identity of the deceased has not been released. The investigative team will continue to piece together the circumstances that led to this fatal conclusion as they comb through the evidence left in the wake of the altercation.
