The officer-involved shooting took place Tuesday afternoon in the parking lot of an area Safeway store

A suspect in multiple recent armed robberies was shot and killed by law enforcement Tuesday afternoon after firing at officers in the parking lot of a Safeway store.

On Tuesday (May 30) at about 5:30 p.m., a detective from the Vancouver Police Department Neighborhood Response Team (NRT) spotted a subject driving westbound in the 6700 block of E. Mill Plain Blvd. The detective recognized the suspect, who was wanted for multiple, recent armed robberies. 

Two additional NRT detectives arrived in the area and the suspect was seen parking his vehicle and entering the Safeway at Mill Plain Blvd. and Andresen Rd. Several minutes later, he was seen exiting the store. 

When the suspect saw police, he dropped a bag of items, displayed a firearm, ran westbound through the parking lot and during the officers’ attempt to apprehend him, the suspect fired at officers and they returned fire. 

Three Vancouver Police detectives and one Clark County Sheriff’s Office deputy discharged their weapons, striking the suspect.  Law enforcement officers have a fundamental duty to preserve human life, and medical aid was rendered to the suspect, however he was pronounced deceased at the scene. No law enforcement officers were physically injured. 

The three Vancouver Police officers and the Clark County Sheriff’s Office deputy have been placed on Critical Incident Leave, per standard protocol of their respective agencies. 

The information is preliminary, and this is an ongoing investigation. 

The Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team, led by the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office, will investigate this incident. Additionally, the Vancouver Police Department has notified the Washington State Office of Independent Investigations. 

In compliance with WAC 139-12, Vancouver Police Department and Clark County Sheriff’s Office personnel will not be involved in this investigation.

• The Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office is the case managing agency for this incident.  All future communications will be sent via the Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team.
• The Vancouver Police Department and Clark County Sheriff’s Office will release the names of the officers and deputy involved, at a later time, via the Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team.
• The Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office will release the name of the deceased, at a later date, when appropriate.
• Once the Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team investigation is complete, the case will be forwarded to the Clark County Prosecutor’s Office for review.

Information provided by Vancouver Police Department.