A suspect is dead and two officers are on leave after an officer shooting during a SWAT team response to a neighbor dispute last week in Vancouver.
At approximately 11:11 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) deputies responded to a disturbance call involving several neighbors in the 5400 block of Northeast 71st Street in Vancouver. According to a CCSO news release, a resident called 911 to report that a neighbor was threatening to harm another neighbor and the parties were yelling. At the same time, another resident reported the same person “was being aggressive and that they had possibly shot a gun into the air,” according to CCSO. The original caller then reported seeing the subject armed with a handgun. Prior to police arrival, the caller reported that the subject used a knife and punctured several tires on the neighbor’s vehicles, the release stated.
After assessing the situation and using an armored vehicle to approach the subject’s residence, deputies spoke to the man by phone, but he was uncooperative and threatened to shoot deputies, the release stated. Two females were later allowed to leave the property, according to the release.
According to the news release, an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) operator observed the suspect arm himself with a rifle from his garage. According to the CCSO release, deputies reported the man fired several shots as deputies again approached the residence in an armored vehicle at around 1 a.m.
At around 1:24 a.m., the Southwest Washington Regional Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team was activated, and SWAT officers arrived on scene at 2:29 a.m., according to the CCOS news release. Area residents were advised to shelter in place during the incident, and the Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency (CRESA) Emergency Management sent out an emergency alert to area residents.
According to the VPD release, at approximately 2:36 a.m., officers saw the suspect standing at a sliding door of the residence armed with the rifle and wearing what appeared to be a ballistic helmet and a gas mask.
According to a VPD news release, the suspect actively shot at police with a high-powered rifle during the incident and “hit a SWAT armored vehicle, nearly shattering the front windshield.” A VPD officer was inside the armored vehicle at the time, sitting next to the windshield when it was struck by the rifle round. A VPD officer and member of the SWAT team then fired his weapon at the suspect, who was pronounced deceased at the scene.
According to CCSO, the Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team is investigating the officer-involved shooting. No law enforcement personnel or other neighbors were injured, and the shelter-in-place order was lifted. According to the VPD news release, two Vancouver officers have been placed on critical incident leave: the officer involved in the shooting and the officer sitting inside the armored vehicle when the windshield was hit by gunfire.
As part of the Vancouver Police Department’s Body Worn Camera (BWC) Program, video captured by body-worn cameras will be reviewed for release at a later time, the VPD release stated. The Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team, led by the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office, is investigating the officer-involved shooting.
As part of the Vancouver Police Department’s Body Worn Camera (BWC) Program, video captured by body-worn cameras will be reviewed for release at a later time. Following the Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team investigation, the case will be forwarded to the Clark County Prosecutor’s Office for review.
