Police: Vancouver man killed self after Longview shootout

A man who allegedly robbed a Longview market Tuesday night — and died after a shootout with a Longview police officer — has been identified as William Lee Kelly, 40, whose last known address was in Vancouver, according to a bulletin from the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office.

And although the Longview officer’s gunshots hit Kelly, the Vancouver man is believed to have died from a gunshot wound to the chest that he himself fired. Cowlitz County Coroner Tim Davidson has ruled Kelly’s manner of death as suicide, officials disclosed at 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

The series of incidents began about 8:40 p.m. Tuesday, when a witness called 911 to say Yoon’s Market and Deli, 3446 Pacific Way in Longview, was being robbed by a man with a handgun who drove away in a dark-colored pickup truck. The clerk called 911 to confirm the robbery minutes later, according to seven updated bulletins from the sheriff’s office.

Longview Officer Nicholas Woodard, a three-year-veteran, spotted the truck and began a three-minute pursuit during which the robber’s truck blew a tire. The chase ended at Coal Creek Road and Pacific Way, where Kelly allegedly exited the truck and fired shots at Officer Woodard.

Woodard fired back and Kelly was last seen running west from the truck, officials said.

No hostage was taken, contrary to earlier reports.

Longview and Kelso police and Cowlitz sheriff’s deputies took positions around the area, watching for the gunman, and called for the Lower Columbia SWAT Team.

SWAT officers soon found Kelly dead about 100 yards from the truck.

Officer Woodard had suffered a minor injury, but was not hit by bullets Kelly fired, officials said.

“As nightmarish as this situation would be for any law enforcement officer, this police officer reacted to a serious lethal threat and survived,” Cowlitz County Sheriff Mark Nelson said Wednesday in one of the bulletins. “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.”

Officials closed a section of Coal Creek Road during an overnight investigation, which included Washington State Patrol detectives who used surveyor-type equipment to take measurements and map the crime scenes. The road has since been reopened.

Kelly’s family in Vancouver has been notified of what happened, a bulletin said Thursday.

John Branton: 360-735-4513 or john.branton@columbian.com.