Everett police shoot, kill alleged armed burglar

By HECTOR CASTRO
P-I REPORTER

Everett police officers shot and killed a suspected burglar early Saturday who was allegedly armed with a gun at the time.

The fatal shooting happened around 1:45 a.m. in the 2400 block of 23rd Street in north Everett, the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office reported.

The investigation into the shooting is being handled by the Snohomish County Multiple Agency Response Team, a coalition of several county law enforcement agencies that handles large criminal investigations and sensitive cases such as officer involved shootings.

According to police, officers were called to a home on 23rd Street after neighbors reported a man breaking windows at the house and breaking down the front door.

Six officers responded to the call. Three officers approached the house where they were confronted by a man who was allegedly armed with a firearm. Investigators have not determined what kind of firearm the man had.

According to the sheriff's office, the three officers ordered the man to put down his weapon, but he did not follow their directions.
The three officers then fired several shots at the man, killing him.

None of the officers were hurt, the sheriff's office reported.

Investigators have not identified the slain man, saying only that he appeared to be in his 30s. There was no one in the house at the time of the shooting and police do not know who owns it or who lives there.

All three officers involved in the shooting have been placed on paid leave, common practice among most law enforcement agencies when an officer is involved in a shooting.

The officers include a 24-year-old woman with the department for just over two years, a 33-year-old male officer with the department for two years, and a 29-year-old male officer with 18 months on the job.

Investigators plan to search the residence where the shooting happened. They have not determined how many shots were fired nor whether the alleged burglar fired any shots.