FORKS — A 59-year-old man was shot and killed late Friday afternoon during a standoff with two law enforcement officers at Lake Pleasant Mobile Home and RV Park, 5 miles north of Forks, Sheriff Bill Benedict said Saturday.
No officers were injured, he said.
Benedict said the man’s name was being withheld pending notification of kin.
“There’s only one relative they know of,” Benedict said. In searching the trailer and other indicators, there’s only one.”
The man was armed with a handgun but did not fire his weapon, Benedict said.
Officers fired multiple times at him, and the man was killed, Benedict said.
Benedict said a neighbor of the man had called 9-1-1 at about 4:45 p.m. Friday to report that the man was acting erratically.
“The victim had been acting out over the last two days, threatening people,” Benedict said.
“Witnesses said he had been making gestures with his hand.
“He was acting very irrationally, screaming all night the night before.”
Benedict said the man was at the threshold of his RV when Sheriff’s Sgt. Edwin Anderson and Forks Police Department Officer Michael Gentry arrived.
It appeared the man may have barricaded himself in the door with a chair, Benedict said.
One of the officers fired a Taser at him.
Benedict said he did not know how far away the officers were or if the Taser hit the man.
The man then retrieved a handgun from inside the RV, Benedict said.
Benedict said he did not know if the man pointed the gun at the officers or how many shots the officers fired after they saw the weapon.
Anderson and Gentry have been placed on administrative leave while the State Patrol investigates the shooting, Benedict said.
Sheriff’s Office detectives also were interviewing occupants of the trailer this morning, Benedict said.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at [email protected]
