Anacortes police captain resigns after airsoft gun incident

ANACORTES, Wash. —

An Anacortes police captain has resigned after he was charged last month in connection with an incident in which an airsoft gun was fired.

Capt. Grant Lightfoot is accused of shooting two teenage boys with an airsoft pistol as they passed by Lightfoot’s home on the way to a friend’s house.

According to police, the boys had multiple welts on their chests, arms and backs.

Officers questioned Lightfoot, who told them that the two boys were throwing rocks at Lightfoot’s 11-year-old son.

According to witnesses, the boys threw rocks after they were shot.

Lightfoot then admitted he and his son fired, but he said his son’s airsoft gun was the only one that was loaded.

Lightfoot was then put on paid administrative leave right after the incident in August, and he resigned late September after charges were filed.

According to documents, Lightfoot told investigators that the incident was "lighthearted and fun."

"This is really difficult for the whole organization, and especially the police department," said Emily Schuh, the Anacortes Human Resources director.

KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reporter Lee Stoll spoke with Lightfoot’s neighbor, Richard Gerlach, about the incident.

"It seems a little much for what happened, that he would lose his job over it," said Gerlach.

Gerlach has lived next to Lightfoot for years and said the officer would never hurt a child.

"He’s a good guy," said Gerlach. "We really pride ourselves on the public trust that we’ve earned in the community and the country and state, and to not have that in place right now is disheartening."

Lightfoot faces two counts of reckless endangerment and two counts of complicity in assault.