Road Rage Leads To Self-Defense Shooting In Washington

FEDERAL WAY, WASHINGTON — Police received a report of a hit and run accident in the 800 block of S. 320th Street in Federal Way at 12:15 PM on Monday, August 8th. While officers were enroute, they received information that the drivers had stopped in the roadway and were fighting.

At some point during the altercation, one of the subjects retrieved a firearm from his vehicle and fired at a 35-year-old Federal Way resident. The man later died of his wounds.

Police conducted an investigation on the scene and determined that it was a case of self-defense. While the person who fired the gun was taken in for questioning, no arrests have been made. The detectives remained on-scene conducting their investigation overnight and into Tuesday morning.

Local firearms attorney William Kirk pointed out that in order for a self-defense claim to be valid, the force used must be shown to be necessary and reasonable. Kirk also stated that any force used to repel an attack must be proportionate to the force used by the attacker.

Once the police complete their investigation, their report will be forwarded to the Prosecuting Attorney, who will make the final determination on whether it is a valid case of self-defense.