Police: Renton officers fatally shoot man approaching them with gun

RENTON — Renton police officers responding to reports of a man randomly firing a gun fatally shot him when police say he ignored commands to stop approaching them.

Just before 2 p.m., several people called 911 to report that a man on foot was shooting at buildings in the 500 block of Southwest Seventh Street, The Seattle Times reported.

Cyndie Morris, a Renton police spokesperson, said in a news release that the man was declared dead at the scene. His name wasn’t immediately released.

The Renton police officers involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave, as is standard in shootings by officers. Their names also have not been released.

“Numerous commands were given to the subject to stop walking towards them and drop his weapon, which went unheeded,” Morris said in the news release. “Officers were then given no choice but to shoot the subject in order to stop the impending threat to themselves and others.”

The fatal shooting investigation will be done by the Valley Independent Investigations Team, a multi-agency team of investigators from the Auburn, Des Moines, Federal Way, Kent, Renton, Port of Seattle and Tukwila police departments in South King County.