KENT, Wash. — Kent detectives are investigating a homicide after a man was found dead in a car that crashed into power lines in the West Hill neighborhood early Thursday morning.
The Kent Police Department (KPD) was called to the 23000 block of Military Road South just after 1 a.m. for an accident with light poles in the roadway. A 911 dispatcher alerted police that someone may have been shot in the vehicle before the accident.
Officers arrived at the accident and found a 2010 Lexus on the road. The driver, a 21-year-old man from SeaTac, had injuries to his head and neck and was not responding, police said in a release. The 21-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene according to police.
Witnesses told police the victim was driving on Veteran's Drive and stopped at a traffic light to turn northbound on Military Road South. The suspect ran up to the vehicle, fired multiple times into the passenger side window then fled the area, witnesses told police. The victim turned on Military Road South and hit a few light poles before the vehicle stopped at the scene of the accident. Police said there were no other victims or injuries.
Investigators said a suspect in the homicide has not been identified, but they do not believe the shooting was a random incident.
Police asked the public Thursday to call the Kent police tip line at 253-856-5808 or leave a tip at KPDTipLine@kentwa.gov. If you have time-sensitive information, call the non-emergency dispatch line at 253-852-2121.