Man fatally shot by Kent Police fired multiple shots at officers | Update

Kent Police reportedly shot and killed a 60-year-old man Nov. 4 outside of a East Hill home after the man fired multiple shots from a rifle at officers responding to a domestic violence incident.

Darren Butrick died from multiple gunshot wounds, according to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office on Friday.

Upon arriving, officers learned Butrick was armed with a rifle inside the home, according to a media release Friday from the Valley Independent Investigative Team that took over investigation of the case from Kent Police. They took positions outside and were able to get the other occupants from within the residence out safely. A brief standoff ensued and SWAT Officers were requested to respond.

While waiting for the SWAT team, Butrick exited the home and fired multiple shots from a rifle at officers. The officers returned fire and Butrick was struck and killed. No officers were injured.

Officers responded at about 8:08 p.m. to a domestic violence incident at the house in the 13000 block of SE 204th Place, near Kentridge High School.

The Valley Independent Investigative Team, a multi-agency team of investigators from seven south King County police departments (Auburn, Des Moines, Federal Way, Kent, Renton, Port of Seattle, Tukwila) is conducting the inquiry into this incident. The Kent Police Department is excluded from this investigation as they were the involved agency.

The investigative team is also in contact with the family of Butrick and will be keeping them informed of the progress of this investigation.

Additional details regarding this incident will be released as the investigation continues. Public notifications will be released weekly until the conclusion of the investigation.

The weekly release of updates about the case and contact with the family of the deceased are part of the new requirements in police shooting investigations after voters approved Initiative 940 in 2018 and the Legislature made amendments to the measure.

Community representatives

That measure also requires two non-law enforcement community representatives on the investigative team. Kent residents Pastor Lawrence Boles and Todd Minor were appointed earlier this year by the Kent City Council to be non-law enforcement community representatives on the team if there are cases involving a use of deadly force by a officer that results in death, substantial bodily harm or great bodily harm by Kent Police.

Kent Police Chief Rafael Padilla confirmed that both men are part of the investigation.

“They have received their initial training and have been activated for this investigation,” Padilla said in an email. “I want to emphasize that the Valley Independent Investigation Team is in charge of the investigation, and they will work directly with the non-law enforcement reps. I, along with other members of KPD will have zero involvement in the investigation.”