A man has been shot dead by police in Tacoma, Washington, after officers responded to a reported domestic violence incident at a home on South Stevens Street.
The shooting took place on Sunday afternoon in the 7000 block of South Stevens Street. The man’s identity has not been released.
Tacoma police shooting under investigation
Tacoma police were sent to the address at about 2.38pm and arrived shortly after 3.09pm. At 3.56pm, officers reported that shots had been fired inside the property.
Police public information officer Shelbie Boyd said officers provided immediate medical assistance to the man until Tacoma Fire Department crews arrived. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
No officers were injured. The officer involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave, in line with department policy.
The Pierce County Force Investigation Team is examining the events leading up to the shooting, while the Washington State Office of Independent Investigations is investigating the use of force by police.
Neighbours said officers appeared to surround the home and worked to gain entry before shouting and gunfire were heard. One resident, who asked not to be identified, estimated that about 10 shots were fired, although that account has not been independently confirmed.
“Once they got access to the house, we heard, like, yelling for a couple seconds before the gunshots,” the neighbour said. “It was once the cops got into the house, I couldn’t hear what they were saying, maybe making themselves known, and then we heard the shots, it was really quick.”
Another resident, James Christian, said he had been asleep and woke to find the street cordoned off with police tape. He described the area as generally quiet and said traffic noise may have masked the sound of the gunfire.
Authorities have not disclosed the nature of the relationship involved in the original domestic violence call. The circumstances of that incident and the fatal police shooting remain under investigation.
