Portland man dies of self-inflicted gunshot wound after I-84 pursuit west of Arlington
By Griffin Beach on Monday, March 16th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
ARLINGTON – A 30-year-old Portland man died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound Friday night following a high-speed pursuit on Interstate 84 that spanned two counties.
The incident began at approximately 7:47 p.m. when a Sherman County sheriff’s deputy attempted to stop a vehicle driven by Devon Brown near Biggs Junction. Brown refused to pull over, leading authorities on an eastbound chase.
During the pursuit, Brown reportedly drove erratically at speeds exceeding 100 mph. About 20 miles into the chase, a Gilliam County deputy deployed spike strips near Phillippi Canyon, but Brown managed to avoid them.
Six miles later, Brown exited the interstate at the Blalock Canyon interchange about ten miles west of Arlington and drove onto a paved section of an unmaintained road. Law enforcement units eventually boxed in the vehicle, bringing it to a halt.
Deputies issued verbal commands for Brown to exit the car, but he sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound before officers could approach.
No officers were injured during the incident.
“While this was not the outcome anyone hoped for, we are thankful for the coordinated response and professionalism of the multiple agencies who assisted during this tragic incident,” Gilliam County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
