A man died after an armed standoff with law enforcement at a home in unincorporated Bremerton, and the Washington State Office of Independent Investigations is
A man died after an armed standoff with law enforcement at a home in unincorporated Bremerton, and the Washington State Office of Independent Investigations is reviewing the shooting, officials said Tuesday.
Kitsap County sheriff’s deputies were called about 8:45 p.m. Monday to a residence in the 8400 block of Northwest Wildcat Lake Road after a woman called 911, according to the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office.
The woman said the 38-year-old Bremerton man, who may have been under the influence of methamphetamine, assaulted her and began placing weapons and ammunition throughout the home.
She said he made statements about “suicide by cop” and shooting at law enforcement.
The woman told deputies the man had returned to the home Saturday with her permission despite a court protection order requiring him to have no contact with her.
She fled the home without further injury, authorities said.
Deputies obtained a warrant to enter the house and activated the sheriff’s office SWAT team.
When team members tried to contact the man, he fired several rounds that narrowly missed officers, the sheriff’s office said.
SWAT members returned fire while the man remained inside.
Authorities said repeated gunfire was heard from the home as deputies, SWAT members, Poulsbo and Bremerton police, and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife officers established a perimeter and evacuated nearby residents.
The man did not respond to a negotiator’s attempts to get him to surrender, the sheriff’s office said.
A Pierce County sheriff’s deputy used a drone to search inside the home.
The drone located the man dead with a firearm in his hand. His death appeared to be self-inflicted, according to the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office.
No law enforcement officers were injured.
The sheriff’s office notified the state Office of Independent Investigations (OII), which is required to conduct an independent investigation when officers use lethal force.
OII said it was notified at 3:50 a.m. Tuesday and has taken over the investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to call the OII tip line at 564-263-0731.
