Gunman killed in Issaquah shooting identified

The man who was shot and killed by Issaquah police, after a standoff with police at an elementary school, was identified Tuesday afternoon as Ronald W. Ficker.

The man who was shot and killed by Issaquah police, after a standoff at an elementary school, was identified Tuesday afternoon as Ronald W. Ficker.

Detectives still haven’t determined why the 51-year-old Maple Valley man drew police into a firefight Saturday. The man reportedly carried loaded rifles and a store of ammo through the community, firing his first shots at the elementary school.

The King County Sheriff’s Office plans to release more information after a meeting with Issaquah Police Wednesday morning.

If police hadn’t stopped Ficker, “God knows what he would have done,” said Sheriff’s Sgt. Jim Laing. “(The police) did exactly the right thing in stopping him from getting away.”

Ficker died from multiple gunshot wounds. The manner of death was homicide, according to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office, which released his name.

Ficker reportedly abandoned a Kia Sedan, which was rented from California, in the roadway on Front Street and Newport Way, according to a release from the sheriff’s office.

He then walked along the Issaquah Community Center and Julius Boehm Pool, pointing his weapons menacingly at residents, according to the report.

The pool, which had about four parties that day, went into immediate lockdown, said Anne McGill, director of parks.

Ficker then walked up to Clark Elementary, which borders Issaquah High School, where he shot out a car window and at a tractor.

When confronted by police, he got low and began firing. Four officers reportedly shot at him. He died at the scene, according to the release.

The fact that no one else was injured was attributed to a quick response from Issaquah police, said Mayor Ava Frisinger.

“Issaquah is a safe community,” said Issaquah Police Chief Paul Ayers. “It doesn’t make any difference on the size of the community, things just happen.”