Pursuit and crash ends in officer involved shooting

KENNEWICK – Benton County Coroner William Leach reports the male suspect involved in an officer involved shooting Sunday night in Kennewick has died. An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday. Leach also said the suspect has not been identified yet.

The Benton County Sheriff’s Office released preliminary information Monday morning involving a pursuit and crash that ended with an officer involved shooting at 8:40 p.m. Sunday around Columbia Center Mall in Kennewick.

Officers from the Kennewick Police Department were pursuing a suspect in a stolen car. The suspect allegedly committed an armed robbery and stole the vehicle earlier in the day.

The suspect crashed the stolen vehicle into the lawn of the Bank of America at Columbia Center Boulevard and Quinault Avenue. The suspect then fled from the stolen vehicle towards the Columbia Center Mall where the suspect attempted to take another vehicle at gunpoint. At that moment, a deputy from the Benton County Sheriff’s Office arrived and an officer involve shooting occurred.

Deputies and officers immediately rendered aid to the suspect who was then transported to a local hospital.

None of the officers or deputies were injured. The Benton County Sheriff’s Office activated the Special Investigation Unit to investigate the officer involved shooting.

Prior to Sunday night’s incident in Kennewick, the Richland Police Department tried to apprehend the suspect in the Richland Walmart parking lot earlier Sunday morning. The suspect, however, evaded capture by ramming two patrol vehicles and escaping the parking lot. Law enforcement in the Tri-Cities believes the suspect is behind the theft of several vehicles, as well as a series of vehicle prowls throughout the region.

Photo via Benton County Sheriff’s Office

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Elkhorn Media Group

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