Thurston Co. SWAT kills suspect after responding to ‘active shooter’ in Lacey
Thurston County SWAT fatally shot a suspect at an apartment complex in Lacey, Sheriff Derek Sanders said late Wednesday.
“Tonight, Thurston County SWAT was activated to assist our partners at Lacey Police Department with an active shooter in an apartment complex,” Sanders posted on Facebook. “While working to evacuate citizens within the complex, an officer involved shooting occurred between SWAT and the shooter. That encounter resulted in the shooter passing away despite life saving efforts. No law enforcement officers were injured, and there is no ongoing threat to the public at this time.”
About 2:30 p.m., Lacey police were dispatched to some apartments in the area of College Street Southeast and 45th Avenue Southeast because of a barricaded suspect with a gun.
In a series of updates on social media, Lacey police ultimately said about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday that the incident involved an officer firing his weapon.
Asked about the incident, the Coroner’s Office said one person died.
The incident is now being investigated by the Washington State Office of Independent Investigations, according to Lacey police.
Lacey police Sgt. Derek Thompson referred The Olympian to the state Office of Independent Investigations for more information about the incident.
“The OII will be the media point of contact and will provide updates,” he said.
An OII news release Wednesday night said that the office “received notification at 5:26 p.m. on January 21, 2026, from the Lacey Police Department that a use of deadly force incident had occurred just after 5 p.m. at an apartment complex in the 4600 block of 45th Avenue SE in Lacey.”
The release went on to say that: “This incident has resulted in a fatality. No law enforcement officers were injured. OII will be investigating this incident. More information to follow.”
During the incident, the public was asked to stay out of the area and told that no traffic would be allowed between Stikes Drive Southeast and College Street Southeast. The area was secured, Lacey police said.
It was not immediately clear if that area had been reopened to traffic late Wednesday.
Further information was not immediately available. Check back for updates.
This story was originally published January 21, 2026 at 5:18 PM.
