North Seattle shooting leaves 1 man dead, police officer hurt

A 28-year-old man who died Wednesday night in a shootout with Seattle police had been wanted by the state Department o f Corrections since failing to report to community corrections officer on Dec. 8.

The man, a prison releasee, was identified by sources as Robert Sullivan. He died at the scene along Aurora Avenue North.

Sullivan, who served time in jail on a drug violation, had been monitored by the DOC since Sept. 12.

The officer who was shot was identified as Troy Swanson, 34. He was hit in the abdomen.

A six-year-veteran of the North Precinct Anti-Crime team, Swanson suffered serious injuries and was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. He was listed in serious condition and was in the hospital's intensive care unit.

Swanson was with another member of the anti-crime team, Jon Huber, who police say fired the shot that killed Sullivan. Huber was not injured in the shootout.

The officers were driving north in the 8800 block of Aurora Avenue North in an unmarked car at about 9:45 p.m. when they saw the man shooting at someone else, said police Sgt. Deanna Nollette.

The officers confronted the man and the man turned and fired on them. Details about why the two men were shooting at each other when police drove up haven't been released. The other man involved in the initial altercation was detained for questioning.

This is the second time this month that someone has shot at a North Precinct Anti-Crime Team officer. Officer Tom Hanley is on administrative leave while police investigate whether he was justified in shooting a 42-year-old Bellevue man.

The Bellevue man was shot and wounded after driving a stolen car directly toward Hanley on Jan. 4.

Jennifer Sullivan: 206-464-8294 or jensullivan@seattletimes.com