Homeowner used own gun to kill Kent man

Kent

A Kent man who shot and killed a suspected intruder inside his home Saturday was armed with his own handgun when he walked in the door and found the stranger inside his home, police said.

A man and woman came home to their condo on Kent's East Hill at 6 p.m. Saturday to find another man inside. The 28-year-old homeowner used his own gun to shoot the suspected intruder, said Kent police spokesman Paul Petersen.

It's unknown why the homeowner had a handgun, Petersen said.

Police aren't releasing the homeowners' names. The dead man, believed in his mid-20s, has not been identified.

Neighbors reported four to five gunshots, but there were no witnesses other than the homeowners, Petersen said.

After the man was shot, he ran through a broken sliding-glass door and died in the backyard. He was carrying a bag that contained some stolen property from the couple's home, Petersen said.

Western Washington

Donations sought for flood victims

Cash donations are the best way to help those affected by a series of disastrous storms earlier this month, according to the Washington State Emergency Operations Center. Nine counties will receive federal individual assistance, but many will still need help. Those who want their donations to be used in specific communities affected by the storm and flooding that occurred Dec. 2-3 should indicate that on the check.

Nonprofits accepting donations include: The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 9219, Seattle, WA 98109; and Washington Interfaith Disaster Recovery Organization, c/o Associated Ministries of Tacoma-Pierce County, 1224 S. "I" St., Tacoma, WA 98405.

Cash donations for Thurston County may be sent to: Rochester Organization of Family Community Services, P.O. Box 312, Rochester, WA 98579, or South Thurston United Friends, 18214 Corvallis St. SW, Rochester.

To inquire about making a cash donation to benefit those in Grays Harbor County, contact Coastal Community Action, 360-533-5100.

To make a cash donation in Pacific County, call His Hands Extended, 360-942-5331.

To make a donation to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, call 1-800-RED-CROSS. The Web site is www.redcross.org.

Olympia

Foster-care kin to hold holiday vigil

Grandparents of children in foster care will hold a candlelight vigil at 6 p.m. Tuesday in front of the state Capitol.

Jan Smith of Olympia said she organized the Christmas Day vigil to promote visitation rights for relatives of children in foster care.

"There's many of us out there who are in the same boat, not able to see their grandchildren, or participate in their lives," said Smith, who said she has a grandchild in foster care. "It's like the parents lose the children and the grandparents get punished for it."

Seattle

Corrosion found in 2nd-oldest ferry

Inspectors have discovered corrosion inside the hull of the second-oldest ferry operating on state waters.

The corrosion was found Saturday in the engine room of the 53-year-old Evergreen State. Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Todd Howard says the vessel will be inspected again Friday after crews clean away some of the corrosion.

Inspection of the 60-year-old Rhododendron, the oldest vessel still running, is expected to wrap up soon.

The Coast Guard ordered inspections for a dozen state ferries after the state's 80-year-old Steel Electric-class boats were pulled from service in November because of concerns about hull corrosion and other problems.

Times staff and news services