Man Who Hijacked A Semi And Then Rolled It Over Is Shot And Killed By Washington State Troopers

THURSTON COUNTY, Wash. - A law enforcement officer shot and killed a man accused of carjacking a semi-truck, rolling it over and refusing to get out of the truck's cab. Authorities say the man charged officers with a knife.

Washington State Patrol (WSP) started getting calls of a man running into traffic on I-5 in Lacey. Traffic came to a stop, and authorities say the man ran around trying to open car doors. The Mason County Sheriff's Office says the man eventually got into a stopped semi-truck, then attacked the driver and forced them out.

The man allegedly sped off in the semi-truck, hitting several cars before rolling and crashing in the median.

WSP arrived on scene and closed the roads, calling in other law enforcement agencies, a negotiator and an armored vehicle.

According to the sheriff's office, the man refused to get out of the truck cab. Officers then used ‘less-lethal’ rounds, but could not break the truck's windshield; a SWAT vehicle was able to break the windshield with a ram, but the man reportedly still would not come out.

Authorities say they used pepper ball rounds, flash bangs and other munitions to force the man out.

The man eventually came out, and the sheriff's office says he charged officers with a knife. WSP reported an officer shot the man.

An ambulance was on scene, but the man died.

The Region 3 Critical Investigation Team (CIIT) is investigating the shooting and the Lewis County Sheriff's Office is the primary investigating agency. The Thurston County Coroner's Office has possibly identified the man, but authorities say they are still trying to confirm the identity.