A tense manhunt is unfolding in Kitsap County after a Thursday shooting inside a home in unincorporated Port Orchard left a 33-year-old man wounded. The Kitsap County Sheriff's Office has named 35-year-old Kenneth Earl McLeod as the suspect and says he took off from the scene with an accomplice. Deputies say McLeod is considered armed and dangerous, and neighbors reported a heavy law enforcement presence in the Helena Trail area as teams fanned out to search for the pair.
How the shooting unfolded
According to FOX 13 Seattle, deputies say McLeod and an unidentified accomplice walked into a home along Helena Trail Southwest near Lake Helena Road carrying a shotgun. The sheriff's office alleges that McLeod confronted the homeowner over an ongoing argument about a motorcycle, then told the man, "I told you I was going to kill you" before firing and hitting him in the right foot. Deputies say the two suspects then bolted from the scene and have not been located.
Port Orchard policing and recent incidents
The shooting lands in a community that has already been dealing with high-profile gun violence in recent months. In December, a shootout in a Port Orchard Walmart parking lot left two people dead and two deputies wounded, prompting a large multi-agency response and stepped-up patrols in South Kitsap, reporting by the Kitsap Daily News shows. Local law enforcement officials say that kind of coordination across county and neighboring agencies is standard during manhunts and active searches.
How to help
The sheriff's office is asking anyone who sees McLeod or has information on where he might be to call 911 or email [email protected], according to FOX 13 Seattle. Authorities are stressing that members of the public should not approach either suspect, since they are believed to be armed and dangerous. Anyone in the Helena Trail or Lake Helena Road area who notices suspicious activity is urged to contact law enforcement immediately.
Investigation ongoing
Investigators have not released any information about the accomplice's identity, and the search remains active as deputies continue to canvass the area. The sheriff's office has shared initial details with local media and says more updates will be released as the investigation moves forward. We will update this story if authorities provide additional information.
