The Lower Columbia Major Crimes Teams has submitted its findings to the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
The Lower Columbia Major Crimes Teams has completed its investigation of the officer-involved shooting that happened May 30 in the 6700 block of East Mill Plain Blvd. in Vancouver and has submitted the report to the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for review.
The incident led to the death of Joshua James Wilson, 43, of Vancouver. Wilson had warrants out for his arrest and was a suspect in three recent incidents.
Investigators interviewed witnesses and obtained multiple sources of video, including surveillance from nearby businesses and body-worn cameras from the officers involved. The Washington State Patrol Crime Scene Response Team and Criminal Investigation Division assisted in this investigation.
Based on witness accounts, video, and interviews with officers, the LCMCT determined:
The Vancouver Police Neighborhood Response Team, assisted by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office Tactical Detectives Unit, was attempting to take Wilson into custody after seeing him enter the Safeway store on May 30.
Wilson was wanted on active warrants. Information had previously been shared with law enforcement agencies in the region noting that Wilson was armed and had reportedly made statements that he would shoot police rather than be taken into custody.
Wilson also had been identified as a suspect in three recent incidents:
A commercial burglary on May 20, an armed robbery on May 21, and an armed robbery on May 29, all in Vancouver.
The officers formed an arrest team in the parking lot near where Wilson had parked the vehicle he drove that day.
Officers identified themselves as Wilson left the store and was walking toward the vehicle. Wilson fled on foot. Videos show Wilson reaching behind his back. Officers called out to each other saying Wilson had a gun. Wilson is seen on video pointing a pistol at a police officer.
Law enforcement officers told investigators they believed Wilson presented an imminent deadly threat, and in response, they fired their weapons at Wilson, striking him several times. First aid was rendered to Wilson. Wilson was pronounced dead at the scene.
He did have a pistol in his possession. The investigation showed that Wilson’s 9mm semiautomatic pistol held five rounds in the magazine. An ATF trace was conducted on the firearm, which is registered to another person out of state.
Also, a handwritten robbery note was found in Wilson’s personal effects.
LCMCT investigators obtained a search warrant for the vehicle Wilson had been driving. A second handwritten robbery note was discovered inside the vehicle, as well as a wig matching the description worn by the suspect, and various other items related to tools used in a burglary. A pipe bomb was also in the vehicle, leading to a response from the Portland Metro Bomb Squad to disable the device.
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