One police officer was shot dead and another was injured after a traffic stop turned into a car chase in Washington state on Monday night, according to authorities.
Capt. Mike Johnson of the Bothell Police Department confirmed the fatal shooting during a press conference early Tuesday. He said the other officer was hit and is at Harborview. [Medical Center] be treated.
“This is unknown territory for us,” Johnson said, according to the Seattle Times. “This will be a difficult couple of days for our organization.”
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Johnson added that the suspect is still on the run and is considered “armed and dangerous.” He was last seen by a witness with a gun.
The incident occurred around 9:40 p.m. in Bothell, reported Seattle KIRO-TV. The suspect led police in a brief chase after the attempt to stop traffic, before exiting the vehicle and fleeing on foot. According to the station, a large police presence involving multiple K-9 units and a helicopter are searching the city for the suspect.
Several law enforcement agencies blocked the streets of downtown Bothell, and the police perimeter is expected to continue throughout the night “as long as we believe there is viable information that the person may still be in the area,” Johnson said.
He told the public to “stay home, close the doors, and if you see something, say something,” according to the newspaper.
Fire officials previously wrote that two officers had fallen after a chase in Bothell, with at least one patient transported to an area hospital.
The suspect is described as a black man with an afro hairstyle, Johnson said. He was last seen wearing a gray tank top and baggy sweatpants.
In a tweet, Bothell Councilman Mason Thompson said he was “heartbroken” by the incident.
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“My prayers go out to the officers who were shot and their families,” said Thompson.
Early in the evening, six people were shot near a Metro bus stop in Kent, located approximately 30 miles south of Bothell. At least five of the victims are currently in the same hospital as the injured officer, with two in critical condition and three in serious condition. The sixth victim was released from the scene with a minor injury.
The victims are between the ages of 16-49 and the incident does not appear to be random, police said.
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“At this time, there are 3 people detained by Kent PD who are being questioned, it is unknown if they are suspects or their level of involvement,” the Kent Police Department wrote on Facebook.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
