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Richland police: man killed by police fired first

The Columbian
Published: June 16, 2011, 5:00pm

RICHLAND, Wash. (AP) — Richland, Wash., police say a man fatally shot by officers fired two shots at police before they returned fire. When they did, Chief Chris Skinner says four officers fired 23 shots.

No officers were hurt; 27-year-old James Dean Schultz of Grandview died from multiple gunshot wounds.

Police said earlier they were investigating several stolen vehicle reports early on June 5, with Schultz identified as a possible suspect. Five officers responded to a suspicious person report and found a sedan occupied by five people including Schultz.

The chief said Thursday that officers repeatedly told Schultz to show his hands and get out of the car.

Skinner says officers’ statements are corroborated by the recovery of two handguns and two shell casings in the car.

The other four people in the car tell the Tri-City Herald they didn’t see Schultz with a gun.

The chief says the Tri-City Special Investigation Unit is working to resolve differences between police accounts and witness statements.

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