Kent Police detectives are investigating a Federal Way Police officer-involved shooting that occurred early Thursday evening near a Federal Way Walmart store and resulted in the death of a 28-year-old man after he reportedly reached for a handgun.
Kent is conducting the investigation at the request of Federal Way Police, part of an agreement South King County agencies have to use an outside police department if one of their officers is involved in a shooting.
Federal Way Police were called to Walmart, 1900 S. 314th St., at about 5:30 p.m. Thursday for a shoplifter inside the store, according to a Kent Police media release.
Retail security officers watched as the man moved about the store for 40 minutes placing a number of items inside his clothing. When the man attempted to leave the store at 6:12 p.m., security officers confronted him about the unpaid items.
The man ran through the front doors whereupon Federal Way Police officers took chase, according to the media release. The man was pursued about 40 yards across the parking lot, busy with afternoon traffic and shoppers.
As officers closed their distance on the man, he stopped suddenly, spinning toward the officers while reportedly reaching for a handgun located at his ankle. The lead officer recognized the threat and discharged his service weapon. The man was struck by several rounds and fell to the ground.
Emergency medical staff from South King Fire and Rescue arrived shortly thereafter but were unable to revive the man. There were no injuries to police officers or pedestrian traffic in the area.
Kent detectives discovered that the man had recently been living in short-stay motels in the Federal Way area.
The King County Medical Examiner’s Officer will release the man’s name once he has been identified and notification has been made to family members.
Kent detectives will spend the weekend reviewing surveillance video, interviewing witnesses, and examining evidence while completing their investigation.
The Federal Way officer involved in the shooting is an 8-year veteran of the agency. He is currently on paid administrative leave, a routine process after an officer-involved shooting.
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