The Clark County Sheriff’s deputy who fatally shot an off-duty Vancouver police officer at his home last year will not face charges, county prosecutor Tony Golik announced Thursday.
In a Jan. 12 release from the sheriff’s office, it was announced the office had received a letter from Golik. The prosecutor reviewed the case of sheriff’s deputy Jon Feller, who shot off-duty officer Donald Sahota while responding to a home intrusion by an alleged robbery suspect on Jan. 29, 2022.
“(A)fter a complete review of the case, (the prosecutor’s office) has made the decision that Deputy Feller will not be criminally charged in this matter,” the release stated.
On Jan. 29, deputies from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office arrived at Sahota’s home following a 911 call about an intruder. That intruder, Julio Segura, fled from a robbery at a gas station near Northeast 117th Avenue and Northeast 99th Street, police reported.
After a high-speed chase Segura crashed near Battle Ground, and made his way to Sahota’s house, according to an investigation by the Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team. After arriving at Sahota’s door, Segura and Sahota got into an altercation, where Sahota dropped his gun.
Segura then ran into the house while Sahota retrieved his firearm from the ground, aerial surveillance appeared to show.
At that time, Feller arrived. Within a matter of seconds he shot at Sahota who was at the door, striking him three times.
The announcement comes after a panel of prosecutors from across the state were unable to reach an unanimous agreement on whether Feller’s actions were justified.
A Dec. 27 opinion submitted by the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office stated prosecutors from Pend Oreille, Lewis, Island, Garfield and Clallam counties were “unable to reach a consensus” on the shooting.
“It appears that Deputy Feller believed the robbery suspect, Mr. Segura, was the person who picked up the gun, and was chasing after Officer Sahota,” the opinion read. “The (prosecutors) panel reviewing this case was unable to reach consensus on whether, had his mistaken belief been correct, Feller would have been justified in shooting Segura at the front door.”
The sheriff’s office release stated the office has and will continue to support Feller.
Segura currently faces charges of murder, burglary, robbery, possession of a stolen vehicle and attempting to elude, according to Clark County Jail records.
Because of that case, the prosecutor’s office and sheriff’s office declined to comment further, “other than to say again that our thoughts, prayers, and support remain with the friends and family of Vancouver Police Officer Donald Sahota and the Vancouver Police Department,” the sheriff’s release stated.
