Man shot, killed by police during traffic stop in Auburn, WA

A man is dead after he was shot by police during a traffic stop early Wednesday morning in Auburn.

The shooting happened before 2 a.m. near the Chevron gas station on 6th Street Southeast and A Street Southeast, along Highway 18. 

What we know:

According to the Auburn Police Department, officers pulled a man over and when they got up to his window, he pulled a gun on a woman who was sitting in the passenger seat next to him. 

shooting scene lights auburn

A man is dead after he was shot by police in Auburn, Washington on Wednesday, January 15, 2025. 

Investigators said the officer shot the driver. 

Officers administered life-saving efforts before medics arrived, but the driver died at the scene. 

The passenger was not hurt, and she is cooperating with police. 

The Valley Independent Investigative Team identified the driver as a 53-year-old man.

The officer who was involved in the shooting was placed on administrative leave, which is protocol. 

What we don't know:

It's still unclear what prompted the traffic stop.

The relationship between the man and woman is not known. 

Police have not identified the man who was shot. 

What is the Valley Independent Investigative Team?

The Valley Independent Investigative Team is a multi-agency team comprised of state certified investigators from eight south King County police departments. 

They're from Auburn, Des Moines, Federal Way, Kent, Renton, Port of Seattle, King County Sheriff’s Office and Tukwila. 

As this incident involved the Auburn Police Department, all APD staff have been excluded from this VIIT investigation.

The Source: Information in this story is from the Auburn Police Department and the Valley Independent Investigative Team on Jan. 15, 2025

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