Criminals these days are becoming bolder and bolder. Seemingly convinced they are bulletproof or that the cops won’t shoot them, they frequently make poor decisions and wind up in a pine box for their results. Recently, a Washington State Patrol (WSP) Trooper responded to a horrific road rage incident, and officials recounted the details in a statement from the Snohomish County Multiple Agency Response Team (SMART).
Receiving the call shortly after 4 p.m., the WSP Trooper responded to the northbound shoulder of the I-5 near mile marker 197. There, a man had rammed his vehicle into a Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) contractor truck with a lift on the side of the road. Operating the lift over heavy mud, two contractors found themselves in horrific danger.
According to the SMART statement, “The suspect was armed with a hammer and an altercation ensued between the suspect, WSDOT contractors, and a Washington State Patrol trooper. During the altercation, the WSP trooper shot the suspect. Law enforcement immediately rendered aid to the suspect. He was pronounced dead at the scene.” Additionally, the statement noted one WSDOT worker sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
In a since-removed clip reportedly of the incident, the suspect closes in on the trooper and proceeds to shove him while clutching what appears to be a hammer in his hand. Jogging away after shoving the trooper, the man yells for the trooper to come for him before turning back around to face the trooper. Instructed to turn back around and stop facing him, the man demands the trooper tell him who the boss is and continues walking towards him.
As the clip continues, the trooper denies the suspect’s demands and instead declares himself the boss of the situation. Suddenly, the trooper has the suspect closing the distance yet again. This time, however, the suspect has the hammer raised and is clearly coming to fight the trooper. With three shots to center mass, the officer immediately drops the suspect before disarming him and rendering aid. Being a solid shot, the suspect stood no chance and died on the scene.
Criminals like these seem to think they run the world. Thankfully, WSP’s Troopers are trained for these kinds of situations. While SMART has yet to release the suspect’s or the officer’s name, it seems crystal-clear that this was a good shoot.
