Police in Seattle have released bodycam video of the shooting of an armed suspect.

The suspect was fatally shot at about 5.15am on Monday in Seattle's Ravenna neighborhood, after digging through the back seat of a stolen car and refusing to show cops his hands.

Cops released a photo of Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9mm recovered on the floor of the stolen car. The deceased suspect had not yet been publicly identified by the King County Medical Examiner's Office.

The incident began at about 4.20am, when officers rushed to respond to a 911 call about a car prowler in the residential neighborhood.

Video shows the suspect jump out of a car when police arrive and flee on foot, ignoring orders to stop.

Cops released this photo of Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9mm recovered in the stolen car

The incident began at about 4.20 am, when officers rushed to respond to an 911 call about a car prowler in the residential neighborhood

As police pursued, the suspect fired at them, cops say. Two gunshots are heard on the bodycam video before the officer returns fire. Police say nobody was injured in that exchange.

Police lost contact with the suspect while taking cover and quickly set up a perimeter and called in K9 units.

Then, in a brazen act, the suspect broke into a home in the neighborhood and held the residents at gunpoint, according to police. He then stole the residents' Volkswagon Jetta without injuring them.

Video shows the stolen Jetta racing down a residential street on the curb attempting to run a police blockade.

The stolen car hits a police cruiser and comes to a stop resting on the curb perpendicular to the street.

Officers with guns drawn try to open the locked passenger door as another team of officers approaches the driver's side from the rear.

'Shut the vehicle off! You can't go nowhere!' one yells as he and another officer approach the rear of the vehicle. 'Shut it off! Shut it off now!'

The stolen Jetta races down the curb of a residential street attempting to run a police blockade

Officers with guns drawn try to open the locked passenger door as another team of officers approaches the drivers side from the rear

The suspect is seen leaning into the back seat and digging around on the floorboard as officers loudly order him to stop repeatedly before one fires on the suspect

'He's trying to back it up,' another officer yells.

The suspect is seen leaning into the back seat and digging around on the floorboard as officers loudly order him to stop.

'He’s reaching, he’s reaching. Don’t do it!' one officer yells.

'Stop reaching. Don’t do it!' the officer repeats as the suspect continues to dig around under what appears to be clothing in the back seat.

One officer opened fire, striking the suspect.

Several officers provided first aid to the suspect, police say. Paramedics pronounced him dead on the scene.

Detectives with the Seattle Police Force Investigation Team are investigating, as is typical with an officer-involved shooting.

The officers involved in the shooting will be placed on paid administrative leave during the investigation, per department policy.