The death of Darrell Bass May 30 in Covington has left an array of questions for investigating officers and sad times for family members.

The 53-year-old Bass was shot and killed by a King County Sheriff’s Department marksman following a four-hour standoff at his home in the 26300 block of S.E. 166th Place.

Following the shooting there were few details to be found about the life and death of Bass.

He was raised in the Nashville, N.C., the Nash County area, and he was a merchant marine, but the answers to the riddle of his last few hours were hard to come by.

A few pieces of the puzzle fell into place June 4 when Dixie Bass, Darrell Bass’ mother, called The Reporter office.

Dixie Bass told a mother’s story of her son. She talked of her sadness and wondered what could have happen.

“He was my golden-haired boy,” Dixie Bass said. “I can’t believe it. He wouldn’t kill a spider. He valued life. This is terrible…. This makes no sense.”

His mother said Bass was being forced to move from his house, “they evicted him. He thoroughly loved that house.” She thought he had lived in the home “two to four years.”

The May 30 incident began at 10 a.m. when Bass’ former wife came to the house to pick up some possessions.

Prior to the incident, Covington Police Chief Kevin Klason said the two were believed to be getting along well.

According to police officials, the morning of the incident Bass’ demeanor changed and his wife called the Covington Police Department for assistance.

An officer went to the door, but Bass would not answer. As the officer was about to leave, Bass came to the door. During an exchange Bass said he had a 250-pound fertilizer bomb and a .50 caliber rifle. Authorities believed a bomb of that size would have caused extensive damage to the neighborhood.

During the next four hours SWAT (strategic weapons and tactics) members, the bomb squad, support officers and Guardian One, the sheriff’s department rescue helicopter, moved into position.

Negotiators talked with Bass on the phone attempting to defuse the incident according to Klason. However, at about 2 p.m. Bass walked onto his deck and pointed a .30-.30 caliber rifle at Guardian One.

A marksman shot Bass, hitting him in the chest. Deputies searched the home, but neither the fertilizer bomb or .50 caliber rifle were found.

Dixie Bass said although her son and his wife had divorced, they were close and Darrell Bass was close with her family. She thought they divorced because of his extended absences as a merchant marine.

He met his wife in the Philippines. Darrell Bass worked with her father on a cruise ship.

Bass and his wife had a son, who is 9-year-old now, and Dixie Bass said her son was devoted to the boy.

“They were such good buds,” she said.

The son Dixie Bass described joined the Air Force after high school and attended the University of North Carolina. She said her son “loved electronics” and he was an officer in the “engine room. He made the ship go.”

She said aboard the ships Darrell Bass was known as “Papi” and “everyone went to him.”

His mother said she has been receiving numerous calls, “from his buddies in New Zealand and Guam.”

Dixie Bass said her son enjoyed walking, hiking, cooking and he wrote “poetry that is ready to be printed and journals of his travels and places he has been.”

“This is hurting so bad,” Dixie Bass said. “Please tell them I am so sorry for the fella that pulled that trigger. I know he has to live with that.”

The investigation of the standoff and shooting will continue for months, but the facts of the case may never answer the questions of Darrell Bass’ final four hours.

Not the answers to the questions Dixie Bass is asking.