Vancouver, Washington – A tragic incident unfolded on Saturday at the Salmon Creek American Legion, where a man lost his life in an officer-involved shooting, according to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office. The events leading up to the fatal encounter began when Clark County Sheriff deputies responded to a carjacking report at the 9200 block of NE 15th Avenue in Hazel Dell around 10:38 a.m.
The victim of the carjacking incident recounted that a man and a woman had stolen his van, with the male suspect seen carrying a handgun. Shortly after, witnesses reported a suspicious circumstance near the Goodwill store at 14300 NE 20th Avenue, where a man and woman tried to carjack another vehicle with a person inside. Deputies swiftly arrived at the scene and established a containment area to track down the suspects.
Upon discovering the stolen van from the initial carjacking behind the American Legion, deputies observed the male suspect entering the premises. Inside the American Legion, a fatal officer-involved shooting occurred, resulting in the death of the male suspect. Fortunately, no deputies sustained physical injuries during the confrontation.
Later in the day, at approximately 3:25 p.m., law enforcement apprehended the female suspect near the intersection of NE 144th Street and NE 20th Avenue. As a standard procedure, four Clark County Sheriffs deputies involved in the critical incident have been placed on leave while authorities delve into the circumstances surrounding the shooting. The Southwest Washington Independent Investigation Team, spearheaded by the Vancouver Police Department, will lead the investigation to uncover the details of the tragic event.