Man killed by Thurston County deputies after chase

Thurston County sheriff's deputies shot and killed a man Tuesday afternoon after a high-speed chase, according to a sheriff's office news release.

The office said a deputy attempted to stop a vehicle that was traveling 90 mph in a 35-mph zone shortly after 2:30 p.m. The vehicle fled, and both cars then crashed in the 3200 block of Hoffman Road Southeast in Olympia, according to reports by the sheriff's office and the office of independent investigations, a statewide agency tasked with investigating all police uses of deadly force.

The sheriff's office said the driver and a passenger fled on foot, and deputies heard shots being fired in a back yard."

"Deputies pursued the suspect on foot when shots were fired and the suspect was struck by gunfire, according to the news release. OII spokesperson Hector Castro said Wednesday that it was unclear at this point in the investigation whether the suspect was armed or if he fired on deputies.

The sheriff's office said aid was rendered to the injured man, but he died at the scene.

The passenger was apprehended with the assistance of a K-9 deputy.

Nearby McKenny Elementary School was placed on lockdown during the event, the sheriff's office said.

The Region 3 Critical Incident Investigation Team and OII will lead the investigation.

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This story was originally published April 29, 2026 at 4:54 PM.