Kent Reporter

1 day ago | kentreporter.com | Joshua Solorzano

Three Renton residents died in a climbing accident Sunday morning in the area of North Early Winters Spire off of State Route 20, about 16 miles west of Mazama, Washington. According to the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office, at about 11:30 a.m. May 11, a party of four climbers from Renton were involved in a fall while climbing, descending a steep gully. According to the sheriff’s office, the fourth member of the party pulled himself out of the fall and contacted law enforcement.

5 days ago | kentreporter.com | Steve Hunter

A 27-year-old Kent man pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the 2023 shooting of a 26-year-old man in a Kent apartment complex parking lot. Johnston J Fernandez-Edwin entered his plea Thursday, May 8 in King County Superior Court. He admitted to killing Jimmy R. Joe, of Kent, on April 27, 2023 at the Dockside Apartments, 23222 61st Ave. S. He remains in custody at the King County Correctional Facility in Seattle.

5 days ago | kentreporter.com | Joshua Solorzano

Former Auburn Police Department officer Jeffrey Nelson, who was convicted of murder in June 2024, has been moved to a prison out of state. According to the Washington statewide automated victim notification network (VINE), Nelson is in the Washington State Department of Corrections, but on May 1, he was moved to an out-of-state prison. Despite his status saying he’s out of state, he still remains in WSDOC custody.

5 days ago | kentreporter.com | Steve Hunter

Sgt. Travis Reed, a veteran corrections officer at the city of Kent jail, remains on administrative leave as the Kent Police Department investigates alleged misconduct by Reed. “He is currently under investigation due to allegations that he engaged in conduct that violated City and department personnel policies,” Kent Police Chief Rafael Padilla said in a May 9 email to the Kent Reporter. An investigation began Feb. 28. The department placed Reed on leave March 4, Padilla said.

5 days ago | kentreporter.com | Steve Hunter

Valley Cities Behavioral Health Care will host a Community Coffee chat in Kent about responding to the fentanyl crisis. The chat is from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 21 at The Multi Service Center Building, 24437 Russell Road. People planning to attend are asked to RSVP online at eventbrite.com. Valley Cities staff from its inpatient clinic Recovery Place Seattle & Recovery Place Kent will be speaking.