A 51-year-old Maple Valley man was killed Saturday in a shoot-out with police, after he fired several rounds near Issaquah High School.
No one else was reportedly injured.
At about 11:15 a.m., a number of residents called police, when a man left his car at Front Street and Newport Way. The man walked several blocks with two rifles in handle, pointing them menacingly at people.
When he arrived at Clark Elementary, which boarders the high school he fired his first shot, breaking the window of a parked car, which was unoccupied.
The man continued in the school property, reportedly trying to get into the cab of a backhoe that was parked in the school. He was not successful, and fired more rounds.
A number of club sports games were underway nearby. Participants reportedly hid under bleachers to shelter themselves, according to the King County Sheriff’s Office.
By then, Issaquah police had converged on the school. The man went into a prone position, laying on the ground, on a service road on the property. He allegedly fired at the officers.
Four police returned fired, and the man was hit by multiple bullets. He died at the scene.
Police Chief Paul Ayers asked The King County Sheriff’s Office to investigate the incident.
At this time, detectives have not determined a motive. The shooter’s name is expected to be released by the Medical Examiner’s Office early next week.
Issaquah’s patrol officers have been involved in “active shooter” tactics and response. This training evolved from the Columbine shooting incident in 1999. It teachers officers how to move directly to someone who is firing a weapon to neutralize the threat.
Issaquah is still a safe city to live, said Mayor Ava Frisinger Monday. “Nonetheless, no one can predict random acts of violence.”
She praised Issaquah police for their quick and affective response, and for how they were also able to help shelter people while the incident to was resolved.
“Some say it shouldn’t happened in Issaquah,” the mayor said. “It shouldn’t happen anywhere.”
The Issaquah School District closed activities at Clark, Tiger Mountain High School, and Issaquah High for the weekend, while police investigated the scene. Additionally, police closed several roads. Everything was reopened today.
Reporter Nat Levy contributed to this report.