LAKE STEVENS — The man shot and killed by police during a confrontation late on Sunday was carrying firearms, detectives say.
Investigators found two handguns at the scene, Everett police Sgt. Robert Goetz said on Monday.
“One was near the suspect, the second was on the suspect’s person,” he said.
Goetz is a spokesman for Snohomish County Multiple Agency Response Team. The special team made up of seasoned homicide detectives investigates police shootings in the county.
Sunday’s shooting occurred after Lake Stevens police assisted Snohomish County sheriff’s deputies in an 8 p.m. disturbance call in the 10400 block of 25th Street SE near Lake Stevens.
The 911 caller, who was inside a home, first said a man was trying to force his way through the front door. The man was known to the caller.
The caller then said the man may have been armed.
Detectives later found signs of forced entry into the house, Goetz said.
Two Lake Stevens police officers who were nearby arrived on scene first. The officers went inside the house. There was some sort of an argument.
“The details of that altercation are still being investigated,” Goetz said.
A 23-year-old Lake Stevens officer fatally shot the man.
No other details have been released about the man who died. The Snohomish County Medical Examiner was expected to do an autopsy. Nobody else got hurt.
There was at least one early news report that the suspect reportedly was armed with a hammer. That detail “has not been confirmed by investigators,” Goetz said.
Investigators arrived at the house late on Sunday and stayed overnight, gathering evidence. They were still working on Monday to determine the relationships between the man who died and the people inside the house, Goetz said.
The officer, whose name has not been released, is on paid administrative leave following standard policy, Lake Stevens Police Chief Randy Celori said. He has been with the department for about three years.
“Support channels are in place to help him through the ordeal,” Celori said. “I don’t look forward to any loss of life. I am thankful our officer is still with us today.”
Detectives with the multi-agency team have been summoned six times since the 2008 shooting by Everett police of Dustin Willard.
Once detectives finish their investigation, the case will be forwarded to Snohomish County prosecutors. They’ll review the investigation to determine if the shooting was legally justified.
So far, only one recent police shooting has been referred for charges. On Oct. 26, county prosecutors charged Everett Police officer Troy Meade with first-degree manslaughter in the June 10 shooting of Niles Meservey, 51 of Stanwood.
Meade is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday. Meservey’s family has filed a $15 million claim against the city of Everett.
Reporter Jackson Holtz contributed to this report.
Katya Yefimova: 425-339-3452, kyefimova@heraldnet.com.
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