Video shows Kennewick police shoot knife-wielding man accused of charging officers
Two Kennewick police officers shot a 27-year-old man after he allegedly charged at them with a knife in an apartment complex parking lot on Wednesday night.
A video posted on Facebook shows Kennewick police officers talking with a man and then firing multiple shots as he bolts between two parked cars toward them.
Three officers can be seen with their guns drawn at the end of the video and two reportedly fired shots, said a Kennewick police news release.
Dillon Winters was wounded but didn’t suffer life-threatening injuries, said Kennewick police, who have turned the investigation over to the Regional Special Investigations Unit.
The Tri-City Herald has reached out to the person who took the video, but hasn’t received a response. According to online reports, the 30-second video was taken by a resident at the apartment complex.
Kennewick medics and police were called to the Arlo on 10th apartments about 10 p.m. after someone reported that Winters had cut his arm and said he wanted to die by suicide, Kennewick police and dispatch reports said.
Officers reported finding Winters with a knife with a large blade and spent the next eight minutes trying to talk him into giving up the weapon and getting help.
The first 11 seconds of the citizen video show Winters standing behind a silver car under a lighted carport while a Kennewick officer stands near the hood of a car speaking to him. The officer appears to have his right hand at his side, apparently on his gun.
The audio of the conversation can’t be heard, but suddenly Winters starts running at the officer with what appears to be the knife over his head.
Winter’s charge came “without warning,” according to a police Facebook post.
The officer takes a step back, draws his gun and begins shooting. The two other officers come into the frame from the left side with guns drawn.
At least six shots are audible in the two seconds of the shooting. Winters falls to the ground.
It’s not clear how many times Winters was wounded.
None of the officers, who have not been named, were injured.
Kennewick police said the officers and Kennewick Fire Department medics provided medical aid for Winters, and he was hospitalized.
When Winters leaves the hospital, he will be booked into the Benton County jail on suspicion of first-degree assault, Kennewick police said.
Public documents show Winters has lived at the Arlo apartments. Court documents show he faced eviction proceedings in December through Arlo’s property management company.
Police shooting investigation
The Regional Special Investigations Unit pulls detectives from agencies across Benton, Franklin and Walla Walla counties to investigate officer-involved shootings.
The Benton County Sheriff’s Office is leading the team investigating this shooting.
Kennewick police also notified the state Office of Independent Investigations about the shooting.
This story was originally published March 20, 2025 at 9:31 AM.