Deputy shoots robbery suspect outside mosque in SeaTac

Deputy shoots robbery suspect outside mosque in SeaTac »Play Video
SEATAC, Wash. -- A sheriff's deputy shot a robbery suspect who drove a car directly at another deputy outside a mosque in north SeaTac on Thursday.

King County sheriff's spokeswoman Cindi West said the man was hit in the shoulder and was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle where he is expected to recover. The deputies were not injured.

West said the man had been sleeping inside a mosque near the intersection of 30th Ave. and South 150th and was awakened when another man arrived to pray just before 8 a.m.

The suspect punched the other man, took his wallet and stole his car, West said.

When deputies arrived the man was trying to drive away in the victim's car. He swerved several times to try and run over one of the deputies, West said. The deputy dove out of the way and another deputy shot the man, causing him to lose control of the car and crash into a neighboring yard.

West said the man is known to have mental issues, but it was not clear whether he had permission to be inside the mosque.

Investigators have cordoned off the area while they collect evidence at the scene.