Updated on April 2, 2025 11:30 am
Seattle police detectives with the Force Investigation Team (FIT) are seeking additional witnesses related to the officer-involved shooting on March 19.
If anyone in the area of the Southwest Precinct or The Home Depot saw or heard anything, please call the FIT mainline at 206-684-9292. You can also email FIT at SPD_FIT@seattle.gov.
Updated on March 21, 2025
As part of our commitment to continued transparency and in response to ongoing requests, the Seattle Police Department is releasing additional information regarding the investigation into an officer’s fatal shooting of a man on March 19.
Prior to the shooting, a woman called 911 at 12:16 p.m. and told dispatchers her husband was reportedly in a parking lot in the 2300 block of Southwest Webster Street and making suicidal statements.
At 12:18 p.m., a Seattle police officer spotted the man inside the gated and fenced restricted-access parking area at the Southwest Precinct. Officers attempted to escort the man out of the secured lot. The man, armed with a knife, turned around, and began walking toward officers asking police to shoot him.
Officers backed up and ordered the man to drop the knife. The man continued walking forward. SPD officers requested a 40 mm launcher, a less-lethal tool, to strike the man from a greater distance and change his behavior. An officer fired the 40 mm launcher, and the man began running toward another officer. That officer fired their department-issued firearm and struck the man.
Seattle police officers immediately provided medical attention to the man and requested Seattle Fire Department medics. Medics arrived and pronounced the man dead at the scene. This is not shown in the released video.
Video:
Photo of Knife:
The Seattle Police Department’s Force Investigation Team continues its investigation into the shooting.
Kyle Hay, 11 years of service, has been placed on paid administrative leave following this incident which is standard procedure.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please call 211 or 988 and speak with someone. Find more information about other resources on our website here.
Original: 3/19/2025
Seattle police detectives in the Force Investigation Team are investigating after an SPD officer shot a person outside of the Southwest Precinct building this afternoon.
On March 19, at 12:18 p.m., patrol officers at the precinct responded to a male in the gated police parking lot armed with a knife. Police attempted de-escalation, including the use of a less-lethal device. Those efforts were unsuccessful.
Ultimately, an SPD officer discharged his department handgun, striking the man. Police provided medical aid immediately.
The Seattle Fire Department (SFD) arrived on-scene and continued medical treatment. SFD pronounced the male deceased at the scene.
The Force Investigation Team will investigate the use of force. Representatives from the Office of Police Accountability and Office of Inspector General responded to the scene.
The circumstances leading up to the shooting are under investigation. Per policy, the department will release video of the incident within 72 hours.
Incident Number: 2025-73847