Homeless Tri-Cities man fatally shot in confrontation at Uptown center in Richland
A homeless man is dead after being shot several times during a confrontation at the Uptown Shopping Center in Richland early Saturday morning.
His family posted on social media and Richland police later confirmed that Michael Anthony Perkins, 36, of the Tri-Cities, had died.
Perkins was homeless, but would spend the limited number of nights allowed by a landlord in his brother’s apartment, his brother posted to social media. He said his brother would sometimes sleep in the Uptown breezeway.
Police were called about a disturbance at 4:15 a.m. and found Perkins wounded. Officers administered life-saving measures but Perkins didn’t survive.
The RPD Criminal Investigation Division and Street Crimes Unit processed the scene and interviewed witnesses.
The investigation revealed that a group of people were gathered in the alleyway of the Uptown Shopping Center, “when Perkins became involved in a confrontation with another male,” said a police news release.
The suspect shot and killed Perkins then fled, said the release.
The breezeway is near Lee’s Tahitian Restaurant on the Jadwin Avenue side of the Uptown center.
Benton County Coroner Bill Leach said an autopsy would be done in the coming days.
Police are asking anyone with information on the incident to call 509-628-0333.
