Man killed by deputy in Covington identified

The man who was fatally shot Saturday in Covington by a King County sheriff's deputy has been identified as Darrell B. Bass.

Bass, a 53-year-old merchant mariner, was shot after he reportedly threatened to ignite a 250-pound fertilizer bomb when his ex-wife came to his house in the 26300 block of 166th Place Southeast to retrieve some of her property.

During the ensuing standoff, Bass aimed a rifle at a sheriff's helicopter, prompting a SWAT marksman to fire a single shot that killed him while he stood on his backyard deck at about 2:30 p.m.

It wasn't until about three hours later that deputies reached Bass, said sheriff's spokesman Sgt. John Urquhart.

A camera-equipped robot was first sent into the home to make sure there were no explosives inside.

Urquhart said Bass had a semi-automatic pistol on one hip and a couple of magazines for the pistol.

Deputies found no explosives during the search of Bass' home.

Relatives and neighbors of Bass could not be reached Tuesday for comment.

Details of the shooting are still being investigated by the Sheriff's Office, according to Urquhart.

He could not identify the deputy who shot Bass or say whether the deputy is now on administrative leave.

Phillip Lucas: 206-464-2204 or plucas@seattletimes.com

Information from Seattle Times archives is included in this report.