The Valley Independent Investigative Team (VIIT) has identified the man who was shot and killed by King County Sheriff’s deputies in Federal Way on May 4.
Cicero Michael Sanchez, 31, died from multiple gunshot wounds and his death is ruled a homicide, according to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office.
A GoFundMe page created by a family member of his said Sanchez, who was known as “Mikey” to loved ones, leaves behind five young children.
“He was a father, son, brother, cousin, nephew, friend and most importantly a person with a big heart,” the page states. So far, the fundraiser has collected $3,578 of a $14,000 goal.
On the morning of May 4, a detective unit with the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) located a man —identified as Sanchez — at the Federal Way library who they had probable cause to arrest for felony assault with a firearm, the VIIT previously said.
After attempting to arrest him, police say Sanchez fled the scene and hit occupied patrol vehicles while fleeing. Deputies stopped Sanchez near South 317th Street and 28th Avenue South near a freeway ramp, according to VIIT.
The agency initially said deputies “encountered a lethal threat and responded with lethal force.”
On May 11, VIIT stated the lethal threat encountered by the KCSO tactical team involved a firearm. Investigators did not provide any details as to who was holding the firearm, where the firearm was located or if deputies had been shot at.
Court records show Sanchez has prior criminal charges for stealing vehicles and eluding police.
Spokespeople for Federal Way and Auburn police departments said there is no body worn camera footage of the incident.
Federal Way officers — who began wearing body cameras in early 2022 — assisted by providing scene security at the library and near the area of the freeway ramp where the shooting occurred, said Cmdr. Kurt Schwan of Federal Way Police.
However, Federal Way officers had no direct involvement with the King County shooting and the body worn camera footage obtained by officers is of no evidentiary value to the case, Schwan said.
The VIIT is a seven-agency investigative unit made of police departments from Auburn, Des Moines, Federal Way, Kent, the Port of Seattle, Tukwila and Renton tasked with investigating officer-involved shootings.
Talk to us
Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.
To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.
