Seattle police booked a 23-year-old man into the King County Jail Monday after he grabbed a King County Sheriff’s Deputy during a fatal confrontation with a gunman at a SODO transit hub Monday evening. Police also found the 23-year-old man was carrying a handgun during the incident.
The incident began just before 4:15 PM when three unarmed Fare Enforcement Officers (FEO) contacted three men on a light rail train to confirm they had paid their fares.
After learning one of the men had not paid his fare, the FEOs asked all three men to leave the train at the SODO station.
After the FEOs requested assistance from a King County Sheriff’s Deputy working on the transit line, one man refused to identify himself to the deputy. When the deputy attempted to take the man into custody, the man pulled out a handgun and a struggle ensued.
When the deputy drew his own firearm, the 23-year-old man grabbed the deputy’s arm. The deputy was able to free himself and return his attention to the armed suspect, before he opened fire.
Police attempted to provide life-saving medical treatment to the gunman, but medics pronounced him dead at the scene.
Officers recovered the gunman’s pistol at the scene and a K9 team later located a second handgun at the light rail station.
Detectives interviewed the 23-year-old man at police headquarters Monday and, after recovering surveillance footage linking the second gun to the 23-year-old man, booked him into the King County Jail for assault on an officer and unlawful possession of a firearm.
Detectives also interviewed a third man who was with the two suspects on the Light Rail train, and released him from police headquarters Monday evening.
The dramatic moments after the shooting were captured on 911 audio as dispatchers from the King County Sheriff’s Office and Seattle Police worked together to get emergency responders to the scene.