Tragedy at Beaver Lake Park

Beaver Lake Park in Sammamish
Photo courtesy Sammamish Parks

By Diane Hettrick with information from the KCSO

This story did not take place in Shoreline or Lake Forest Park - but the first part of it could have.

Vehicles prowls are common at city parks. People carry guns. In the Beaver Lake case, that was the recipe for tragedy.

On Wednesday, January 25th just after 2:30pm, a 22 year old Sammamish man and his girlfriend were walking their dog in Beaver Lake Park in Sammamish.

They saw someone breaking into their car. The man ran to his car and confronted the suspect, who got into another vehicle.

The man got his gun and fired shots at the suspect vehicle. He was run over and killed by the suspects as they fled the scene of the crime.

Detectives learned a credit card stolen from another vehicle in the same parking lot was used about an hour later at a Fred Meyer store in Renton.

Detectives obtained surveillance photos of two suspects attempting to use the stolen credit card. An associate of the pair identified them as 17 year old female from Federal Way and a 16 year old male from Des Moines.

On Friday, January 27th, King County Sheriff’s detectives conducted an undercover operation in the city of Des Moines as part of the Beaver Lake Park homicide investigation.

About 10:30pm, detectives used a ruse to get a 16 year old male, who detectives believed was connected to the homicide, to come outside so he could be safely questioned.

However, Detectives were approached by the 16 year old male and a 17 year old male, both armed with pistols. Detectives identified themselves as law enforcement officers and ordered the pair to drop their weapons. The 17 year old male fired his pistol at the detectives. Three detectives returned fire, striking the male.

The other male, who was the one being sought by detectives, fled on foot.

The 17 year old male who had been shot was transported to Harborview Medical Center for treatment, but later died from his injuries. His pistol was recovered next to where he was found.

The other male dropped his loaded pistol while fleeing. The pistol was later found where it was dropped.

He was eventually located hiding in a nearby apartment and taken into custody without incident.  He was booked into Youth Services Center for weapons charges.

Detectives do not believe he was at the scene of the Beaver Lake Park homicide.

Detectives continued to search for the 17 old female who was seen in the Fred Meyer surveillance photos using a credit card stolen at the park. She was located Saturday morning at a house in Skyway with a 23 year old female who has been identified as the driver of the vehicle that killed the 22 year old man in Sammamish.

The 23 year old female was arrested and booked for Vehicular Homicide and the 17 year old female was arrested for Identity Theft and Possession of Stolen Property. Both women were at the scene of the Beaver Lake Park homicide.

The three male deputies involved in the shooting are a sergeant, 42 years old who has 11 years with Sheriff’s Office; a detective, 36 years old and 10 years with Sheriff’s Office; and a detective, 36 years old with 5 years at Sheriff’s Office.

Update:  King County Sheriff’s detectives arrested a 16 year old girl Tuesday morning in Federal Way. Detectives believe she was the third occupant in a vehicle that struck and killed a 22 year old man at Beaver Lake Park in Sammamish last Wednesday during a botched car prowl.

Detectives also believe she is one of the women who used a credit card stolen from another vehicle at Beaver Lake Park around the time of the homicide.

Detectives do not believe there are any outstanding suspects in the Beaver Lake Park homicide.

updated 1-31-14 4:30pm