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Armed robber dead after trading shots with police in Longview

The Columbian
Published: October 27, 2010, 12:00am

Press Release #1

Longview, WA – On 10-26-2010 at approximately 8:38 PM, Cowlitz County 911 Disptach Center received a call from a citizen reporting what he believed to be a robbery in progress at Yoon’s Market and Deli at 3446 Pacific Way in Longview. The suspect was seen leaving the store in a dark colored pickup truck. The store clerk called in just minutes later to confirm they had been robbed and the suspect was armed with a handgun. Longview Police spotted the vehicle and began to pursue. The pursuit last for approximately 3 minutes and ended at Coal Creek Road and Pacific Way. The suspect vehicle blew out a tire during the pursuit. The suspect exited the vehicle and began shooting at the pursuing Longview Officer. The Longview Officer returned fire and the suspect was last seen running west from the vehicle. Units from Kelso PD and Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office arrived to assist with containment and Lower Columbia Swat Team has been activated. The investigation is being handled by the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office.

Update to Previous Press Release: #2

Longview, WA- Lower Columbia Swat Team members began searching the area for the suspect and located him. The suspect was found deceased approximately 100 yards from the suspect vehicle. Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Detectives are investigating. Further updates will be released periodically through out the night. Currently the roadway between Ocean Beach Hwy and Pacific Way on Coal Creek Road is closed.

Update #3

Detectives are still processing the scene. The Cowlitz County Coroner has also arrived and will assist with the investigation. The suspect, who remains unidentified at this time, acted alone. Earlier reports in the media that the suspect had taken a hostage is not accurate. The officer, who is not being named at this time, was not seriously injured. The suspect does have gunshot wounds. The details about the suspects wounds will not be described further until the autopsy is concluded. The date and time of the autopsy has not been set. A very short section of Coal Creek road is closed. Captain Huffine has secured, CCD Rosenzweig is on scene.

Update #4

Investigators are wrapping up the scene and the roadway should be open in the next hour. The Washington State Patrol brought in a personnel who have specialized training using the Total Station, which is a surveyor type of transit that aids in taking precise measurements of evidence at the scene. There is an autopsy scheduled for 11:00 A.M. today. We are not releasing the name of the suspect or the officer at this time. I will do another release in the mid afternoon with any new information.

Update #5

The autopsy was performed on the suspect; Coroner Tim Davidson has ruled the cause of death to be “gun shot wound to the chest”. We will not be describing the injury to the suspect in further detail or number of shots fired at this time. The Longview Officer received minor injury in the event but was not hit by bullets from the suspect. We will not comment further on the details or nature of the Longview Officers injuries at this time.

The identity of the suspect is still not known. We will share this with media once the ID it confirmed. The release of the identity of the Longview Police Officer will be handled by that agency (Longview PD). I have not had a chance to determine if there is video (or not) from the store. Prosecutor Sue Baur responded to the scene, as is customary in these case and is working closely with Law Enforcement and the Coroner. Most of the investigators who have been out since late last night are securing for the day. Detectives will focus tomorrow on preserving evidence collected in the case as well as working with the Coroner trying to identify the suspect. There will be no further media releases today.

Cowlitz County Sheriff Mark Nelson states “As nightmarish as this situation would be for any law enforcement officer, this police officer reacted to a serious lethal threat and survived. We are grateful that the good Lord was watching out for this officer and that he and his family are being well supported by family, friends and co-workers at the Longview Police Department, the Cowlitz County Chaplaincy and other local law enforcement.”

There is no threat to residences in this area and the roadway is completely open.

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