PORT ORCHARD, Wash. -- A suspect died at the scene of an officer-involved shooting Thursday night at the South Park Village mall, just outside Port Orchard city limits.
Port Orchard Police officers responded to a call at 8:15 p.m. The reason for the police response and the cause of the confrontation, which occurred in the alley behind stores in the strip mall, were not being released by the Kitsap County Sheriff's Office, which is investigating.
"The suspect is confirmed deceased," sheriff's Sgt. Ken Dickinson said. "The officer himself suffered a non-life-threatening minor injury and is being treated."
A crowd of people in front of the Rendezvous Tavern stood in shock and tears. No one who witnessed the incident was willing to talk about it. One woman wailed loudly, as others tried to comfort her.
"I was at my friend's house, and I heard the gunshots," said Cody Berthiaume, who was one of a crowd of onlookers. "I thought it was fireworks. We ran over here. ... We saw the guy lying on the ground behind the Rendezvous."
Dickinson said he was unable to release additional details late Thursday night.
The injured officer remained at an area hospital as of late Thursday night, said Port Orchard Police Cmdr. Dale Schuster.
Copyright 2014 - Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, Wash.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
