The fatal shooting by police of a man in a Spanaway storage unit was justified by his "violent response,GÇ¥ according to Pierce County authorities. Independent and concurrent investigations by the county's medical examiner, prosecutor's office and Sheriff Department concluded that officers acted lawfully in the shooting last December of Chase Houston, 28. Houston died from a gunshot wound inflicted by a member of the Pierce County Metro SWAT team. Prosecuting Attorney Mark Lindquist, in a statement Aug. 6 accompanying the findings of the investigations, said officers involved in the incident "did everything they could to avoid a gun battle, but the defendant's violent response necessitated deadly force.GÇ¥ On Dec. 3, 2013, at 2 p.m., sheriff deputies went to check on Houston at a garage-style storage unit near 216th Street and State Route after his family reported he was living in the unit, was making irrational comments over the telephone and on social networks, was using methamphetamine and was armed, authorities said.-á Deputies called Houston, who reportedly said he would kill them and anyone else who tried to contact him. The SWAT team was called to the scene, and a negotiator talked Houston into coming outside. He partially opened the door to the storage unit but refused to cooperate with the SWAT team's commands to put his hands on his head and turn around, authorities said. After SWAT members fired non-lethal projectiles at Houston in an attempt to subdue him, he went back inside and closed the door. To prevent Houston from using his car that was parked in front of the door, SWAT members attempted to tow it away. As the team was hooking a cable to the vehicle, Houston began firing a gun through the garage door. One SWAT member was struck in the arm. Two other officers fired back through the door with their rifles, and the gunfire from inside the storage unit stopped. After officers were unable to get a response from Houston, they entered the storage unit and found him dead on the floor with a handgun and expended casings next to him. According to the medical examiner, Dr. Thomas Clark, Houston died from a gunshot wound to his abdomen. Clark also determined Houston had methamphetamine, marijuana and oxycodone in his system at the time of his death.
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