A 38-year-old Kent man was arrested Saturday night, April 12, 2025 after allegedly firing multiple gunshots at a teenage driver in a drive-by shooting, then leading police on a brief foot chase, aided by aerial support from the Washington State Patrol.
Kent Police said the incident began around 11:28 p.m. Saturday in the 25600 block of 34th Avenue South, when a 16-year-old reported being followed and shot at by a motorcycle rider after returning home from an event.
The teen told officers the rider pointed a handgun equipped with a laser at him before firing 3 to 5 shots while pursuing him northbound on Military Road.
The teen was not injured, but bullets struck a neighbor’s home and another vehicle.
A Washington State Patrol aircraft known as “Smokey” assisted Kent PD officers from the air and tracked the suspect eastbound on South 272nd Street to 116th Avenue Southeast, where he abandoned his motorcycle and attempted to hide in a wooded area.
Officers on the ground, along with K9 Atena, located and arrested the suspect without incident. A distinctive helmet and a semi-automatic .45 caliber handgun were recovered near the scene.
The suspect was booked into jail on suspicion of first-degree assault, and the motorcycle—registered to him—was towed.
“We love our law enforcement partners who proactively jump in on a moment’s notice to help us catch bad guys,” Kent PD said in a statement. “Thank you WSP Smokey for the assist! Great job by the KPD patrol crews sharing the load on this call with multiple locations spanning both Kent hills.”
