Mi’Chance Dunlap-Gittens, 17

Des Moines, Washington
January 28, 2017

Agencies: Seattle Police Department Washington | King County Sheriff's Office Washington

Cause of death: Shooting

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Overview

In an undercover operation, detectives attempted to get the 16-year-old male, who they believed was connected to the homicide, to emerge from a Des Moines residence for questioning Jan. 27, according to the King County Sheriff’s Office. The teen and a 17-year-old male unrelated to the investigation, both armed with pistols, approached the detectives.

After the detectives identified themselves as law enforcement, they ordered the pair to drop their weapons before the 17-year-old male fired at the officers. Three detectives returned fire, striking the male, while the 16-year-old being sought fled.

The 16-year-old was eventually located hiding in a nearby apartment and booked into the Youth Services Center for weapons charges. They later determined he was not at the scene of the Beaver Lake homicide.

The three male deputies involved in the shooting are a sergeant, 42 years old who has 11 years with the sheriff’s office; a detective, 36 years old and 10 years with the sheriff’s office; and a detective, 36 years old with five years at the sheriff’s office.

Detectives found the female in the surveillance photos on the morning of Jan. 28 at a Skyway home. That’s where they also located a 23-year-old Renton woman believed to be the driver in the fatal hit-and-run. The 23-year-old was arrested for vehicular homicide and the 17-year-old was arrested for identity theft and possession of stolen property. Deputies say both women were at the scene of the Beaver Lake Park homicide.

Authorities said Radcliffe, 22, was walking his dog with his girlfriend at the park when he saw someone who tried to break into his parked vehicle around 2:30 p.m.

According to police, Radcliffe armed himself with a handgun and confronted the suspects as they fled. The vehicle ran over Radcliffe after shots were fired. He died at the scene.

The Seattle Police Department issued a statement last week, saying a veteran officer is the deceased man’s parent.

Legal Action

The Dunlap-Gittens family will settle a civil-rights lawsuit for $2.25 million, an apology and a promise by Sheriff Mitzi Johanknecht to pursue a new policy — to be named after the boy, Mi’Chance Dunlap-Gittens — that would require her deputies to use body and dash cameras.

Community and Family Efforts

Obituary