Deadly officer involved shooting under investigation in Lacey

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A state agency is investigating the use of deadly force by a Lacey Police Department officer at an apartment complex last week.

The Washington State Office of Independent Investigations (OII) said it is reviewing a fatal shooting that took place in Lacey at approximately 5:06 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 21.

"The Lacey Police Department notified OII of the incident at 5:26 p.m. The first OII investigators arrived just past 6 p.m. with approximately 25 investigators involved in the initial response. According to their initial report to OII, Lacey P.D. (Police Department) was responding to a call about a disturbance at an apartment complex in the 4600 block of 45th Avenue SE in Lacey. When the officers arrived, they reported shots had been fired from one unit," said the OII in a statement.

"A regional SWAT team was activated, which included officers from the Yelm, Olympia, Tumwater and Lacey police departments as well as deputies from the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office. Lacey P.D. (Police Department) reported there was contact with the person in the unit. At some point a man stepped outside and allegedly raised a firearm in the direction of the law enforcement officers.

"One officer fired multiple times from his firearm, striking the man. Medics with the SWAT team rendered aid, but the man was declared deceased at the scene. The involved officer is with Lacey P.D. (Police Department)."

In addition to the OII investigators, the Washington State Patrol Crime Scene Response Team sent a team to process the scene. The Thurston County Coroner’s Office also responded to the scene, the OII said.  

The next of kin was notified, but authorities did not immediately release the name of the deceased man. Multiple news outlets, including KING 5 News in Seattle, later identified the man as Kaleb Lewis, of, Lacey.

OII said it would release the name of the involved officer in the days ahead.  

OII has also established a tip line for the investigation. People with information should call the OII Tipline at 564-263-0280. All information provided to OII is subject to public disclosure, as required by state law.

When the investigation is complete, a final case report will be posted here and made available to the public.

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  • chrispc2u

    The shooter’s name was Kaleb Lewis: https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/family-identifies-man-killed-lacey-apartment-standoff/281-9dba8a18-87d8-47e1-8149-9fa8684db301

    He fired 36 rounds in random directions through a fence onto 45th st striking a blue Tesla sedan driving by that shot out both rear windows of the car. The driver was not hit. One bullet traveled across 45th st piercing the garage door of a condo there.

    Doesn’t seem to me that the Jolt exerted much effort to investigate this story. Much of the information is on the internet

    Tuesday, January 27 Report this

  • Southsoundguy

    25 investigators to look into one officer shooting? What a stupid waste of resources, it really calls into question the entire existence of this OII.

    Tuesday, January 27 Report this