A late-afternoon standoff with a barricaded suspect ended peacefully Thursday evening when Kent Police took a 16-year-old assault suspect into custody without incident.
The arrest culminated an intense investigation and search to find the male suspect who was involved in a shooting on Kent’s East Hill Saturday afternoon. That shooting left a 19-year-old Kent man seriously wounded. The victim is now recovering but remains hospitalized.
Kent Police obtained an arrest warrant for the suspect, whose identity is being withheld due to his age. Working from information gathered during their investigation, officers and detectives established surveillance on several local addresses. At about 2 p.m. Thursday, a surveillance team spotted the suspect outside a home in the 24500 block of 104 Avenue Southeast. Additional officers were called and the house surrounded.
Initial efforts to draw the occupants from the house were ignored, though several persons eventually came out. Despite claims that the suspect was not inside the home, officers continued their efforts to call the teen out. Because the arrest warrant was for a crime of violence, SWAT officers also responded. Shortly after 6 p.m. the suspect exited the house and surrendered to police.
“We’re very happy that this afternoon’s arrest came without further injury to anyone involved,” said Kent Assistant Police Chief Pat Lowery, “… and we’re confident that his apprehension will bring relief to the victim and his family.”
The suspect will be held at the King County Juvenile Detention Center in Seattle on $250, 000 bail while his case moves forward.
Because of the standoff traffic along 104 Avenue Southeast, a busy east Kent arterial, was interrupted for about three hours as the situation wore on. All roads were reopened and neighboring residents returned to their homes by 6:15 p.m.
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