Skip to main content

Bothell police officer killed in shooting after car chase

A Bothell police officer was killed and another injured when a shootout broke out during a traffic stop, authorities said early Tuesday.

It was part of a burst of gun violence in the region overnight, including shootings in Kent and Renton.

Police say the officers tried to stop a dark-colored sedan on westbound state Route 522 near Bothell Landing at about 9:40 p.m. Monday. During a short chase, the sedan hit a person on a scooter, then crashed through the median barrier. Shots were fired and a suspect ran away. The suspect was found hours later hiding on a roof and arrested.

One Bothell officer died at the shooting scene, police said. The other was taken to Harborview Medical Center, treated and released Tuesday morning. The person on the scooter who was hit was reported in satisfactory condition.

“I have worked here for over 25 years and we have never had an officer shot, so this will be some uncharted territory for us and this will be a rough couple of days for our organization,” said Bothell Police Capt. Mike Johnson.

Police have not released the identities of the officers.

Streets in downtown Bothell were closed well into Tuesday morning.

This investigation will take some time, especially since the suspect has just been arrested,” said Officer Aaron Snell with the Snohomish County Multi-Agency Response Team. “Having somebody out on the loose, potentially with a gun, really hampered the investigation.”

caption: The Bothell Police Department posted this badge on Twitter shortly after one of its officers was shot and killed, July 13, 2020.
Enlarge Icon
The Bothell Police Department posted this badge on Twitter shortly after one of its officers was shot and killed, July 13, 2020.
Bothell Police Department Facebook page

Kent and Renton

Other shootings occurred Monday evening in Kent and Renton.

Six people were shot near a bus stop in Kent on Monday evening, according to police. A Harborview spokesperson said three male victims were in serious condition about 6 a.m., and two were in satisfactory condition. It was unclear whether a suspect had been arrested.

Also, a shooting inside a Renton Target store Monday evening left a 15-year-old youth wounded. He was listed in satisfactory condition. Police said Tuesday morning that the suspect fled.

Why you can trust KUOW