Viet Do Nguyen, 27, has been identified by the King County Medical Examiner’s Office as the man killed by Kent Police while parked in his vehicle along Pacific Highway South.
Nguyen died from multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Medical Examiner’s Office.
Four Kent Police officers were placed on paid administrative leave for their role in the fatal shooting June 13 in the 25200 block of Pacific Highway South near the Fred Meyer store on the West Hill.
Two Kent officers initially responded at about 4:13 a.m. to multiple 911 calls about a vehicle stopped on the road and blocking the lanes of travel and that the driver was a possible DUI, according to a media release June 14 from the Valley Independent Investigative Team (VIIT).
Officers approached the vehicle and observed Nguyen unresponsive inside the vehicle with his foot on the brake pedal and the vehicle still in gear. Fearing for the safety of other motorists, multiple officers used their patrol vehicles to pin the vehicle from the front and rear to prevent the vehicle from moving if the driver’s foot was removed from the brake pedal.
While the officers were contacting Nguyen, a struggle ensued, according to the media release. During the struggle, an officer stated over the police radio that Nguyen was in possession of a gun.
Moments later, an officer radioed that shots were fired. The officers immediately removed Nguyen from the vehicle, made sure the scene was safe, and rendered medical aid to Nguyen until relieved by fire and medic personnel. Despite the efforts of the first responders, Nguyen was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Of the officers involved, one sustained minor lacerations during the struggle with Nguyen, the others were not injured.
A handgun was recovered from the interior of the vehicle.
VIIT is a multi-agency team is comprised of state certified investigators from seven south King County police departments (Auburn, Des Moines, Federal Way, Kent, Renton, Port of Seattle, and Tukwila). As this incident involved the Kent Police Department, all Kent staff have been excluded from the investigation.
The Federal Way Police Department is the lead investigating agency.
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