Suspected car prowler shot by Covington homeowner

COVINGTON, Wash. — A suspected car prowler was shot by a homeowner in Covington early Thursday.

It happened near Southeast 250th Court and 161st Place Southeast.

Dispatchers received calls about someone being shot at 2:30 a.m.

The homeowner, who wished to be identified only as Patrick, told KIRO 7 he was alerted to the prowlers when motion sensors from his security system went off. When he checked his series of surveillance cameras, he saw two men breaking into his car. He then grabbed his gun and went outside.

The homeowner said one of the suspects was armed with at least one gun.

"I came out, saw the guys -- caught them literally red-handed with the car -- and the guy turned around and he had what appeared to be a pistol in his hand and he hid behind the vehicle. And I just took cover behind the (Toyota) 4Runner and had to put him down," said Patrick.

Patrick said the car prowlers were clearly seen on surveillance video, which he showed to deputies. He will not be charged in the shooting.

The King County Sheriff’s Office said a handgun was recovered from the wounded suspect. Detectives said the gun was stolen during a car prowl in Kent five days ago.

The second suspect is still at large. He is described as a white or Hispanic man, 5-feet 10-inches to 6-feet tall, wearing a baseball cap and hooded sweatshirt.

Investigators ask that anyone who may have been the victim of a car prowl in Covington Wednesday night or early Thursday to call 206-296-3311 to report it.

Watch a short interview with the homeowner about the shooting, the scroll down to continue reading.

The man who was shot was taken to Harborview in serious condition.

The homeowner was not hurt and was not taken into custody.

Patrick had put up a flyer in the neighborhood nearby last month that showed pictures of a previous car prowler he got from his security camera. He's unsure if the man he shot is the same one in the previous incident.

He said car prowls may be an issue there because his home is secluded and down a driveway in relation to where his car is parked on the street. Patrick said though he has a sign up on a fence that says security cameras are in use, thieves don't seem to care.

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