The Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office performed an autopsy on the decedent, who has been identified as Joshua James Wilson, age 43, of Vancouver
The Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team investigation of the officer involved shooting, which occurred on May 30, 2023, in the 6700 block of East Mill Plain Blvd in Vancouver, is ongoing. LCMCT investigators, with assistance from the Washington State Patrol Crime Scene Response Team and Criminal Investigation Division, completed evidence processing of the scene. Investigators have interviewed numerous witnesses and have obtained multiple different sources of video, including store surveillance and officers’ body worn cameras.
On Friday (June 2) the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office performed an autopsy on the decedent, who has been identified as Joshua James Wilson, age 43, of Vancouver. The autopsy report notes the manner of death as being homicide, with the immediate cause of death being multiple gunshot wounds. The manner of death listed in the autopsy report is a medical finding and does not in any way establish criminal intent.
As of this date, Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team investigators have been able to determine the following facts, based on witness interviews, officer interviews and review of related video:
On May 30, 2023, the Vancouver Police Neighborhood Response Team, assisted by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office Tactical Detectives Unit, was attempting to take Joshua Wilson into custody, after seeing him enter the Safeway at this location. Wilson was wanted on active warrants for his arrest. Officer Safety 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 had also been identified as a suspect in three recent incidents:
• Commercial Burglary, 2400 E. Evergreen Blvd, Vancouver – May 20, 2023
• Armed Robbery, 6510 E. Mill Plain Blvd, Vancouver – May 21, 2023
• Armed Robbery, 1901 Kauffman Ave, Vancouver – May 29, 2023
The responding officers had formed an arrest team in the parking lot near Wilson’s vehicle. Officers identified themselves and ordered Wilson to stop, but he fled Westbound on foot. Videos show Wilson reaching behind his back and officers then call out that Wilson had a gun. Wilson is seen on video pointing a pistol directly at a uniformed police officer and is then engaged with gunfire from three officers and one deputy. Officers then rendered first aid to Wilson. Wilson was pronounced deceased at the scene and did have a pistol in his possession.
The Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team will not be releasing video evidence from this incident until the involved officer interviews have been completed.
Information provided by The Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team.
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