Boy shot by Vancouver police allegedly threatened people with knife before shooting

When officers encountered Clayton Joseph, he brandished a knife and refused to drop it when ordered, according to the release. After he refused, Vancouver Police Cpl. Roger Evans shot him, the release said. Clayton Joseph was taken to the hospital and later died.

The Regional Major Crimes Team is continuing to investigate the incident.

Previous knife incident

Clayton Joseph was convicted earlier this year for assaulting a man with a knife, according to court records.

Armed with a large steak knife in October, he walked up to Michael Smith, whose age is not available, when he was standing in a public area near the site of Tuesday’s shooting, according to the probable cause affidavit. Joseph swung the knife toward Smith’s face without provocation, but Smith deflected the attack, the affidavit said.

As Smith’s brother and a witness called 911, Joseph walked off toward Ellsworth Elementary School, where he tried to steal a 14-year-old’s skateboard by punching him in the face and threatening to stab him with the knife, according to the affidavit. The 14-year-old was uninjured but told police he thought the assailant was going to stab him, the affidavit said.

Joseph later acknowledged to police that he intended to stab the victims, according to the affidavit. Joseph pleaded guilty earlier this month to second-degree assault and fourth-degree assault, according to court records. He was scheduled for sentencing March 6.

Police were familiar with Joseph before the shooting because of the October incident, Vancouver Police spokeswoman Kim Kapp said Friday.

But officers did not know the names of any of the people involved, only physical and clothing descriptions, before responding Tuesday night, Kapp said. Dispatchers also did not provide information on previous calls at the complex because a specific apartment address was not given.

Conner Bloxham, speaking on behalf of Joseph’s family, said last week that Joseph was trying to stop someone from attacking their girlfriend before the shooting.