Crime
UPDATE: Police identify Kennewick man killed in sword attack
Kennewick police identified the man wielding a sword who was shot and killed by officers Sunday night.
Hussein Hassan, 46, of Kennewick, was walking on Olympia Street near 10th Avenue with the sword about 6:30 p.m. Witnesses said he seemed to be trying to hide the weapon with a newspaper.
When Kennewick Officer Jason Kiel got out of his car to talk with him, Hassan charged and started hitting Kiel in the head with the sword.
Just then, a second officer, Joshua Kuhn arrived. Kiel managed to pull back and both policemen drew their weapons and fired at Hassan.
Hassan was taken to Trios Southridge Hospital, where he died, said a police news release. Kiel suffered a head injury and was treated at Trios and later released.
Benton County Coroner John Hansens said a formal autopsy for Hassan is scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday.
The Tri-City Special Investigations Unit is continuing its investigation into the shooting. The special unit includes officers from other law enforcement agencies in the area. The agency involved in the shooting does not participate.
Kuhn and Kiel are on paid administrative leave pending the investigation.
Kuhn has been an officer for 15 years. He was involved in the 2014 shooting death of Aaron T. Wright, 32, after he led police on a chase in a stolen car and pointed a pellet gun at officers. The Benton County Prosecutor’s Office cleared the three police officers involved of any wrong doing.
Kiel has almost 20 years combined service with the Kennewick Police Department and the Washington State Patrol. He was named Kennewick’s officer of the year in 2014.
Benton County Sheriff’s Sgt. Bob Brockman is asking anyone who may have video of the shooting or saw what happened to call 509-735-6555.
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