A man who was fatally shot during a police standoff in Puyallup about two weeks ago has been identified, according to the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s office.
Bret Winn, 29, died from multiple gunshot wounds on April 5 near the 500 block of Valley Avenue Northeast. His manner of death was listed as a homicide, the office wrote in a news release.
Deputies were dispatched at 12:25 p.m. to the 10400 block of Portland Avenue East for a reported armed robbery and carjacking, The News Tribune previously reported. That set off a series of events that ended with the fatal shooting.
Tacoma police and firefighters responded to a multi-car wreck at South 56th Street and Pacific Avenue two minutes later. One of the vehicles involved in the crash was similar to the one that was stolen, according to a news release from the Pierce County Force Investigation Team.
When officers arrived at the crash, they were advised that another carjacking took place nearby that involved the same suspect. Officers found that stolen vehicle at 12:39 p.m. near East 35th and East D streets. A pursuit began after an officer tried to stop the vehicle, the release said. Puyallup officers were also involved in the pursuit.
The pursuit ended at Valley Avenue East after officers deployed strike strips to stop the vehicle. Winn came out of the vehicle and was armed, the release said. Officers ordered him to drop his weapon and stop moving. When he came towards the officers, shots were fired.
Winn was declared dead at the scene after officers and medical personnel provided aid. No officers were injured.
Court records show Winn has previous convictions in Pierce County for second-degree assault in 2022 and third-degree assault in 2020.
PCFIT is investigating the shooting.