Man found dead after shooting at police during Kent standoff

A man wanted on a violent felony investigation opened fire on Kent Police during a standoff Monday at an apartment building near downtown before turning his weapon on himself.

After the lengthy standoff – an ordeal that spanned nearly four hours – a Valley SWAT team entered the apartment and found the suspect dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.

Officers spotted the suspect – a man in his 50s who was wanted on a felony warrant by Seattle Police – around 10 a.m. outside his apartment in the 200 block of West James Street. The man, after seeing the officers, fled to his apartment.

Police tried to persuade the suspect over the phone to surrender but the man ended communication, police said.

A SWAT team then entered the scene, surrounding the building and closing off streets in the area.

Police continued to negotiate with the man, but the suspect refused to come out of the building. A flash bang grenade was fired into the building, at which time shots were fired toward officers inside the apartment, police said.

Police did not return fire, opting to use tear gas, a loudspeaker and phone to reach the man, who did not answer.

The SWAT team then entered the apartment, discovering the deceased man.

“He was potentially dangerous, which is why the SWAT team was called in to try to take him into custody,” said Kent Police Chief Rafael Padilla. “They did everything they could to get the man to come out. … He fires back … shots went toward officers on scene. Fortunately, nobody was hit. … Fortunately, nobody was hurt.

“… It’s unfortunate whenever there’s a loss of life. I wish he hadn’t gone that route, but that’s what he chose to do.”

Police have released no further information about the suspect.

The standoff ended around 2 p.m., at which time streets reopened.