SEATTLE — A retired King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) detective, remembered for surviving a near-fatal shooting during an eviction in 2023, has died in a boating incident in Montana.
Body Recovered from Flathead Lake
Authorities confirmed that 67-year-old David Easterly, of Mill Creek, Washington, was found dead in Montana’s Flathead Lake on Monday.
According to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Easterly had been reported missing after jumping from a boat in the Blue Bay area on Saturday around 4:30 p.m. Search teams located and recovered his body around 2 p.m. Tuesday.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office is investigating the cause and manner of death. Easterly’s body has been sent to the Montana State Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.
A Survivor of the 2023 Eviction Shooting
Easterly was widely known for his extraordinary survival following a violent eviction incident in Ballard in March 2023. While serving an eviction notice with two fellow deputies, Easterly was shot twice — once above the chest and once in his side. Both bullets bypassed his protective vest.
Investigators later determined he was most likely shot by the tenant, not by friendly fire from the other deputies who returned fire during the confrontation.
Remarkable Recovery
The injuries left Easterly in critical condition. He underwent multiple surgeries at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, losing one of his kidneys and spending extended time in the ICU.
In interviews following the shooting, Easterly recalled believing he would not survive. “I thought I was going to die,” he said, adding that he asked his partner to tell his family he loved them.
Despite the dire outlook, doctors described Easterly’s recovery as “nothing short of remarkable.” By May 2023, just months after the shooting, he was released from the hospital.
At his release ceremony, Easterly grew emotional as he thanked blood donors who saved his life. “Most of the blood that flows through me right now doesn’t even belong to me,” he said. “It belongs to the people who were generous enough, brave enough to give me that blood.”
Choosing Resilience Over Bitterness
Even after his ordeal, Easterly remained determined to live without resentment. “I wasn’t going to let the bitterness over what happened that day overtake or control my life,” he told KOMO News. “I feel a lot better. Trust me. I’m on the right side of the ground.”
His words and attitude resonated with many, making him a symbol of resilience for colleagues and the broader community.
Confirmation of His Passing
The King County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Easterly’s death this week, mourning the loss of a retired detective who had already faced extraordinary challenges in the line of duty.
While the boating incident is still under investigation, colleagues and community members are remembering Easterly for his courage, his will to survive, and his gratitude for life after the shooting.
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