01:38 PM PST on Saturday, December 31, 2005

KING 5 Staff Reports

RENTON, Wash. – A gunman died after a nine-hour standoff with police near Renton.

Several police departments had been trying to subdue the man since before midnight Friday night. It began when police were conducting an investigation of suspected prostitution at 1701 East Valley Road.

One man they approached fled on foot. When police gave chase, they said the man started firing shots at officers, who then returned fire. The suspect crossed East Valley Road and five lanes of Highway 167, eventually hiding in a large wetland that runs parallel to Highway 167.

A police statement said he "remained agitated and continued to fire at police from his location within the wetland."

Police said they tried to negotiate with the suspect but he didn’t respond. Police also shot many tear gas pellets at the gunman.

Around 9 a.m. the standoff ended with the suspect’s death. Neither the suspect identity, nor cause of death has been determined, police said in the statement.

Renton police did make two arrests related to the prostitution investigation.  

KING

The standoff lasted all night and closed nearby roads.

The suspect was hiding in the brush off SR 167 near 180^th Street. Nearby roads were closed during the standoff.

They reopened shortly after 9 a.m.