An island man was booked into King County jail last evening, after threatening his ex-girlfriend with a gun and attempting to flee to Tacoma. He appeared in court this afternoon, where probable cause was found to hold him on charges of domestic violence in the first degree. Bail was set at $300,000, according to a spokesman from the King County Prosecutor’s Office. His next scheduled court appearance is Friday, Feb. 8.
Sgt. Ryan Abbott, spokesman for the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO), said deputies were called to the 17300 block of 97th Place SW about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5, after a caller to 911 reported that his daughter had been shot at by her estranged boyfriend.
Abbott said that the incident began when the victim dropped her 1-year-old child off at the home of her ex-boyfriend, who is the father of the child. Concerned that it was taking her a long time to return, the victim’s father went to the suspect’s house, where another family member let him in. Inside, he heard a loud verbal altercation and a gunshot from the bedroom and forced his way into the room. He found the suspect with a gun in his hand and was able to disarm him during a brief altercation. The suspect fled at that point, Abbott said. Investigators later found a bullet hole in the ceiling of that room.
One of KCSO’s K-9 units came to the island to track the man, who was initially believed to be on foot. Law enforcement also alerted Washington State Ferries, providing descriptions of the suspect and of a possible vehicle he might be driving. A ferry crew on the south end’s Chetzemoka reported to the sheriff’s department that they believed the man was on board sailing from Vashon not long afterward. Abbott said the Tacoma police met the ferry and arrested the man, turning him over to the King County Sheriff’s Office. He was booked into jail at approximately 10:30 p.m. on the investigation of felony domestic violence assault and unlawful possession of a firearm.
Washington State Ferries sent out an alert after the incident, saying that the Chetzemoka had left Point Defiance late for its 8:25 p.m. sailing to Tahlequah because of police activity aboard the vessel.
Vashon Island Fire & Rescue also responded to this call. According to Assistant Chief Bob Larsen, there were no serious injuries.
It is The Beachcomber’s policy not to name suspects until/if they are charged. This story is continuing to develop and will be updated.
