Police seek help identifying woman in downtown homicide

The Vancouver Police Department’s major crimes unit Friday released several images taken from surveillance video showing a suspect in Wednesday’s homicide investigation in downtown Vancouver, and the police are asking for the public’s help identifying the woman.

Police are looking for the woman in connection with the Wednesday death of Bentley Brookes, 58, of Camas.

Police were dispatched to Pacific Bullion Precious Metals, 701 Main St., at 11:50 a.m. Wednesday to a report of a man believed to be dead and found Brookes’ body. He died as a result of a gunshot wound, police said Thursday.

The police said the woman should be considered armed and dangerous.

The department asked anyone with information on the suspect to call the Vancouver Police Department tip line at 360-487-7399 or email Vancouver Police Det. Lawrence Zapata at Lawrence.Zapata@cityofvancouver.us.

The precious metals shop Brookes worked in was established in 2014. It specializes in buying and selling gold coins and bullion, as well as gemstones and jewelry.

Brookes has been described as a staple character in the pawn shop, antique, jewelry and precious metals scene in Vancouver.

He was one of more than 100 county residents to run for a position on the freeholder board, a group of citizens tasked with rewriting the rules of county government, in 2013.

He also made an unsuccessful bid for Vancouver City Council in 1995.

His family has started a fundraising page through GoFundMe.com, titled Memorial fund for family of Bentley, to help Brookes’ wife and family address funeral and other expenses.