A Thurston County deputy shot and injured a man who allegedly pointed a gun while the deputy was responding to a fire call.
THURSTON COUNTY, Wash. — A Thurston County Sheriff’s Office deputy shot and injured a man while responding to call about a fire Thursday morning.
The deputy was responding to the fire at a property near 149th Lane Southeast and Smith Prairie Road Southeast when the shooting happened.
Deputies have been to the property before, which Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders called a “known drug compound” with trash and hundreds of cars and trailers. The property is flagged that law enforcement must go in before firefighters when there’s a fire due to prior criminal activity.
When the deputy arrived, he got into a confrontation with a man who was trying to put the fire out and wouldn’t back away to allow fire crews access. Sanders said someone else on the property called to report the fire, and Sanders believed the man didn’t want anyone else there.
The man pulled out a firearm and pointed it at the deputy, Sanders said. The deputy fired his weapon and struck the man in his extremities.
The man had multiple gunshot wounds. First responders gave him medical aid, and he was taken to the hospital. He is expected to survive.
The deputy was not injured in the shooting.
A second firearm was recovered from the man, Sanders said.
During the entire incident, Sanders said the fire was “raging” in the background. It has since been put out.
A coalition of agencies outside Thurston County will investigate the shooting. The Washington State Office of Independent Investigations is not expected to participate as deadly force was not used.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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