Bremerton Police: Armed robbery suspect fires at officers, carjacks couple and sets house on fire
BREMERTON, Wash. - Washington State Patrol are investigating after an armed robbery suspect led law enforcement on a car chase and fired at police before carjacking a couple at gunpoint and then setting a house in Bremerton on fire.
Bremerton Police say they had probable cause to arrest 33-year-old David Knox for an armed robbery he allegedly committed in Port Orchard on July 22. On July 24, a Bremerton Police officer spotted him on Highway 3 and attempted to stop him. It was then that police said Knox led them on a chase.
Knox exited the highway at Austin Drive and lost control of his vehicle, becoming airborne, police said.
When he got out of his crashed car, he fired at least one gunshot. Officers say he ran down the highway and fired again, but this time toward a Bremerton police officer. The officer was not hit.
Knox then stopped a car on Highway 3 and carjacked the couple inside at gunpoint, police said.
After he carjacked the couple, police say he ran into a home in the 5500 block of Harlow Drive and locked himself inside. While he was inside, he fired multiple shots at officers who had set up a perimeter around the house, police said. A Kitsap County Sheriff's vehicle was hit, but no officers were injured.
While he was in the house, police believe that Knox set a fire inside and left the burning home from a balcony it was engulfed in flames.
When he jumped from the balcony, police said he took off in another car, and officers chased him. He was stopped on Price Road when construction prevented him from going any further.
Shots were fired at that location, though it's unclear if it was from Knox, officers or both. Bremerton Police said neither Knox nor law enforcement were injured.
Knox was sent to jail and will be booked for two counts of second-degree attempted murder, first-degree robbery, unlawful possession of a firearm, rendering criminal assistance, resisting arrest and eluding. The Port Orchard Police Department also requested that charges be added for first-degree robbery and second-degree assault/domestic violence for the July 22 incident.
Knox's bail has been set at $1.05 million.