Man Dies After Apartment Standoff in Kennewick – You Heard Details from Police Chief on Newstalk 870

Several law enforcement officers are being called heroes for their role in helping rescue a 7-year-old child and two women from a dangerous standoff early Monday morning in Kennewick.

Around 3:30am, Kennewick police were alerted to a call to the Emergency Dispatcher from a mother who was worried her son might cause harm to others, and that he had a gun. She thought he might be in Pasco, but information eventually led officers to the Mandarin Apartments at 3320 West 9th.

The suspect was discovered to be in unit B-10. Police heard a commotion inside and began to attempt a forced entry, but fell back when the man inside he had a gun.  After the SWAT Team arrived and nearby units were evacuated,  officers saw a woman come to the window of the second story unit, and she dropped a 7-year-old child to officers who were waiting below. They caught the child, and also the woman as she jumped.

Richland police also helped respond to the incident.

During this time, the man inside fired at least one shot at Benton County Sheriffs and Kennewick and Richland police. Two officers laid on top of the woman and child to shield them until they could be moved. Police also helped a second woman down from the window.

Police returned fire after being shot at and apparently hit the suspect. Once the women and child were out of the unit, the SWAT team blew the door off, and sent in their robot.  The suspect, who had been wounded, refused to exit.  Officers saw, via the robot from the Richland bomb squad, the suspect lying on the floor and moving, but he refused to surrender.  He eventually stopped moving and died at the scene. The officers who returned fire were one from Richland and a Benton County Deputy.

Paramedics were there ready, but were not able to help the man as he refused to surrender before finally expiring.   The incident is still under investigation, the man's identity has not yet been released.