The three officers from the Vancouver Police Department and one deputy from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office who were involved in the fatal shooting of an armed robbery suspect have been identified, days after the suspect’s name was released.
On June 8, the Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team released the names of the four who shot at Joshua Wilson, 43, in a Safeway parking lot in Vancouver on May 30, killing him.
Clark County Sheriff’s Detective Zach Nielsen was among the four identified. He has served with the sheriff’s office since 2016 and is currently assigned to the sheriff’s tactical detectives unit, according to the major crimes team.
The other three officers are all members of the Vancouver Police Department. They include Detective Colton Pierce, who has been an officer since 2012 and is currently assigned to the department’s neighborhood response team; Detective Aaron Yoder, who has been an officer since 2015 and is currently assigned to the department’s neighborhood response team and is also a SWAT team member; and officer Brandon Riedel, who has been an officer since 2018 and is currently assigned to the east precinct patrol.
Three days before the officers were identified, the Clark County medical examiner released Wilson’ name. The medical examiner ruled Wilson died from multiple gunshot wounds and his death was ruled a homicide.
According to law enforcement, one of the Vancouver detectives spotted Wilson driving in the 6700 block of East Mill Plain Boulevard on May 30. The detective recognized Wilson as a suspect who was wanted for multiple armed robberies that happened recently.
Two additional VPD detectives arrived in the area and saw Wilson park at and enter the Safeway at the corner of Mill Plain Boulevard and Andresen Road, according to law enforcement. When Wilson exited the store, he noticed the detectives, dropped a bag of items and showed a gun.
Wilson ran through the parking lot and fired at the officers who attempted to apprehend him, according to police. Three VPD personnel, along with the sheriff’s deputy, returned fire and shot Wilson.
Wilson received medical aid, but was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the release. No officers were injured during the incident.
The Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team is still investigating the shooting.
