After his wife called to say he wanted to die, man fatally shot by Snohomish deputies

A 35-year-old Lake Stevens man was shot and killed by Snohomish County sheriff’s deputies Sunday night.

Just after 8 p.m., the victim’s wife called authorities to report that her husband was suicidal and that he wanted police to kill him. She told dispatchers that her husband had gone bird hunting earlier that day but she did not know his exact location.

At about 9 p.m., deputies located the victim’s vehicle in a gravel parking lot near 51st Avenue Southeast and 20th Street Southeast on Ebey Island.

Deputies attempted to talk to the man and gave instructions for him to come out from his vehicle unarmed. Officials say the man did not listen to the deputies and came out of his vehicle holding what deputies said looked like a weapon.

The three deputies opened fire and the man was declared dead at the scene, according to a Snohomish County spokesperson. Detectives recovered a firearm from the scene.

The deputies who were involved in the shooting — with experience ranging from 2 to 12 years — are on paid administrative leave pending the investigation. None were injured.

Once the Snohomish County Multiple Agency Response Team completes its investigation, the results will be forwarded to the Snohomish County Prosecutor’s Office for review.

The Snohomish County Medical Examiner's Office will release the cause of death and the identity of the victim.

This story was originally published January 22, 2018 at 9:52 AM with the headline "After his wife called to say he wanted to die, man fatally shot by Snohomish deputies."