Richard Thompson
South Sound Bureau Chief Richard Thompson is responsible for covering important issues and events impacting this critical region of western Washington. If there is news happening from the Capitol to the coast, our South Sound Bureau and its mobile newsroom are in a position to respond faster than any other news team.
Richard is a Washington native who grew up in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood. He received a Bachelor's Degree in political science from Seattle Pacific University in 1990. KIRO-TV hired him straight out of college as a segment producer working on environmental and investigative stories.
After two years, it was off to Wichita, Kansas, for a three-year stint as a general assignment reporter, before coming back to KIRO-TV's South Sound Bureau in July 1995.
Richard has won numerous awards for his reporting, including a regional "Series" award from the Society of Professional Journalists and an "Enterprising Reporting" award from the Associated Press. Richard, his wife, and two sons live in the Lacey area.
Latest from Richard Thompson
SWAT team shooting of Hoquiam standoff suspect justified
Video just released Thursday to KIRO 7 Eyewitness news shows the view from the police command post on March 28 as a Hoquiam house burned and three members of the Thurston County SWAT team fired 33 rounds killing a man named Rick Marlowe. The day before, Marlowe had opened fire ...
Investigators want to know if Aberdeen, Centralia arsons are connected
Arsonists are setting fires in Aberdeen and Centralia. The question being asked by investigators now is "could it be the same fire bug?" In Centralia, Riverside Fire Marshal Rick Mack has been trying to catch an arsonist responsible for setting at least three and as many as five fire earlier ...
String of suspicious fires threaten lives, property in Aberdeen
Melissa Sturgill spent Tuesday removing smoke-damaged items from her Aberdeen massage therapy studio after an arsonist targeted the building. "I'm pretty devastated. I poured my heart and soul into this place," said Sturgill. A hair salon in the building was also severely damaged, and the fire gutted a law firm, ...
Drunken driver hits funeral director on way home from comforting grieving family
Andrew Kill is a funeral director at Funeral Alternatives in Lacey who was on his way home from comforting a grieving family Sunday night near Lacey when his car was T-boned by a drunken driver, critically injuring him. His wife, Michelle Kill, told KIRO-7 her husband is in stable but ...
Courthouse shooter sentenced to 26 years
A judge called Steven Kravetz delusional, dangerous, and a nuisance before sentencing him to 26 years in prison Friday. It was April 9, 2012, when Kravetz came to the Grays Habor County Courthouse acting in a suspicious manner. Deputy Polly Davin was called to check on Kravetz and he attacked the deputy. During the ...
Winlock school bus crash video obtained by KIRO 7 shows students flying off seats
On April 9, a bus loaded with the Winlock/Toledo boys soccer team ran off the road and down a 75-foot embankment coming to a rest in a swamp. Video of the crash obtained by KIRO 7 shows a darkened school bus. Players can be heard talking on the video, then the talk turns to screams ...
Authorities looking for man who attempted to lure 10-year-old boy
A 10-year-old boy walking to Olympic View Elementary near Lacey tells police he was the victim of an luring attempt. The boy told Thurston county detectives a man in a silver car, possibly a Saturn, stopped and offered him $100. The boy told authorities that he told the man he ...
Great Wolf Lodge lifeguard arrested on child rape charge
Amanda Minker of Yelm arrived at the Great Wolf Lodge with her family Wednesday for their annual trip to the popular water park and resort. When she arrived, however, she learned a lifeguard at the lodge had been arrested on suspicion of rape. "That's not good. Not good at all," said Minker. ...
Man tries to pay traffic fine with fake money
The man seemed a little odd when he walked into Centralia Municipal Court. Deputy Court Clerk Jillian Shewfelt told KIRO-7 Eyewitness News over it and found out the two 20s were way off in color and did not look real.” While the clerk was taking a closer look at the ...
Chehalis woman recovers from surgery after swallowing barbecue brush wire
A woman is recovering after she swallowed a barbecue brush wire. "I thought I was getting an ulcer," Bonnie Jean Kay told KIRO 7 Eyewitness News. For six weeks, her stomach was hurting; sometimes a more sometimes more, but then one night it felt like she was being stabbed with ...
Featured Articles
Ads By Google
Video from KIRO 7
KIRO 7 Eyewitness News for iPad
From Our News Partners
More local news
© 2013 Cox Media Group. By using this website,
you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices
.
You're Almost Done!
Select a display name and password
{* #socialRegistrationForm *} {* socialRegistration_displayName *} {* socialRegistration_emailAddress *} {* traditionalRegistration_password *} {* traditionalRegistration_passwordConfirm *}Tell us about yourself
{* registration_firstName *} {* registration_lastName *} {* registration_postalZip *} {* registration_birthday *} {* registration_gender *} {* agreeToTerms *}