Suspect shoots at troopers, barricades himself in car with gunshot wounds from return fire

CLEARVIEW, Wash. - The Valley Independent Investigations Team (VIIT) is taking over the investigation of a shooting involving a suspect and Washington State Patrol (WSP) Troopers that occurred near Snohomish late Monday night. 

The incident started at 7:48 p.m. when troopers pulled over a speeding driver on State Route 9. Shortly after the driver was pulled over, he fired a shotgun at close range at the troopers who pulled him over. 

The two troopers fired back, apparently hitting the suspect. Neither of them were seriously hurt. 

The driver refused to put down the shotgun and continued to move around inside the car, resulting in an hours-long situation with him barricaded inside. The SWAT Team was eventually called in as a result. 

Before the SWAT Team arrived, multiple police agencies responded for backup, and a portion of State Route 9 near 180th St. SE in Clearview was shut down for several hours as law enforcement worked to control the situation. 

A FOX 13 crew at the scene heard law enforcement yell "Open the door. Come out!" to the suspect using a blowhorn during the hours-long standoff. 

Around 11:30 p.m., deputies with the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office were able to get the suspect out of the vehicle. He was taken to the hospital with apparent life-threatening injuries. 

The driver was identified as a 27-year-old Snohomish man. He has yet to be charged in connection with the incident. 

Because of the involvement of multiple Snohomish County and State agencies in the incident, Valley Independent Investigative Team was asked to investigate this use of force. VIIT comprises of both law enforcement and community members from Auburn, Des Moines, Federal Way, Kent, Port of Seattle, Renton and Tukwila.

VIIT is asking one who may have witnessed the initial shooting during the traffic stop to contact Det. Jason Renggli at jrenggli@rentonwa.gov, or by phone at (425) 430-7525.