EVERETT — A man died after being shot by law enforcement officers early Friday in Everett when he advanced on them following reports of gunfire near an elementary school.
The Snohomish County Multiple Agency Response Team is investigating the use of force incident that took place around 2:30 a.m., Friday, March 20, in the 8700 block of 7th Avenue Southeast. An Everett police officer reported hearing sounds of gunfire in the area of Emerson Elementary School and requested assistance.
With help from Snohomish County deputies and a drone unit, officers located a lone adult male who was reportedly discharging a handgun into the air. After officers attempted to negotiate and deescalate the situation, the man advanced toward officers, prompting officers to deploy tasers. When the individual continued to approach, officers with the Everett Police Department and the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office discharged their firearms.
The man was transported to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries. No officers were injured. There is no current threat to the public, and officials have been communicating with the Everett School District regarding the incident.
The investigation by SMART remains ongoing with weekly updates posted on the SMART Investigations webpage. When complete, results will be forwarded to the Snohomish County Prosecutor’s Office for review.
SMART consists of investigators from various Snohomish County law enforcement agencies and the Washington State Patrol, along with civilian community members serving under the Law Enforcement Training and Community Safety Act.
Author: Mario Lotmore
