A Lacey Police Department officer shot and killed an armed man during a standoff at an apartment complex on Wednesday, Jan. 21.
The Washington State Office of Independent Investigations (OII) is investigating the officer’s use of deadly force.
The names of the officer and of the decedent have not been released. OII has confirmed that the officer was with the Lacey Police Department.
Lacey officers had responded to a report of a disturbance at an apartment complex in the 4600 block of 45th Avenue Southeast around 4 p.m. on Jan. 21, according to information released by OII spokesperson Hector Castro.
When officers arrived at the scene, they reportedly learned that shots had been fired and that the suspect was barricading himself in the apartment.
The regional Thurston County SWAT team, which includes Thurston County Sheriff’s Office deputies as well as officers with the Lacey Police Department, Tumwater Police Department, Olympia Police Department, Yelm Police Department and Lacey Fire Department, was then activated.
The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office made a social media post at approximately 4:01 p.m. asking people to avoid the area and use alternate routes until the situation was resolved.
The Lacey Police Department made a similar social media post at approximately 4:22 p.m.
Between 4 and 5 p.m., there were scattered reports on social media and over the police scanner about shots being fired inside the apartment.
SWAT personnel attempted to contact the suspect and began evacuating the apartment complex.
During the attempted evacuation, Castro said, the suspect reportedly stepped outside the apartment he had been barricaded in and pointed a firearm at officers.
A Lacey Police Department Officer then reportedly shot at the suspect multiple times.
SWAT EMTs attempted lifesaving efforts, including CPR, but the suspect was declared dead at the scene.
No officers were injured.
OII was notified of the incident at approximately 5:26 p.m.
The Lacey Police Department made a social media post at approximately 6 p.m. reporting that the scene was secure, but there was still a heavy law enforcement presence in the area traffic would remain blocked between College Street and Stikes Drive until the scene was cleared.
Roughly 25 OII investigators, joined by members of the Washington State Patrol Crime Scene Response Team, responded to interview SWAT personnel and process the scene.
Investigators worked through the night, clearing the scene Thursday morning.
OII was created in 2021 to conduct independent investigations of deadly use of force by law enforcement.
An 11-member OII Advisory Board reviews the results of the investigation and provides input on agency policies, but it’s up to local prosecutors and police agency leaders to decide whether to file charges or take other disciplinary action.
OII will post updates on the investigation online at https://oii.wa.gov/.
Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to call OII’s tip line at 564-263-0280.
The Lacey Police Department’s use of force policy dictates that an officer subject to a deadly force investigation be put on administrative leave until the investigation is complete and has been reviewed.
