Vancouver Police Fatally Shoot Suspect Armed With a Gun and a Knife
Posted on
June 27,2024
Vancouver, Washington — On June 17, 2024, at approximately 12:51 a.m., a Vancouver Police Patrol Officer was driving in the 2800 block of NE Andresen Road. Three people flagged the officer down and reported that a male walked by them as they were parked in the McDonald's parking lot, had a verbal exchange with them, pulled a gun out of his pocket and pointed it at them. The victims told the officer they thought he was going to shoot them. As the officer was speaking with them, one of the people pointed out the suspect who was walking southbound on Andresen.
They described the suspect as a male wearing black clothing, a mask, and having a handgun, which he pulled from his right pocket. The suspect was later identified as 40-year-old Jonathan West Nelson. Officers established probable cause for Assault I for the suspect. Multiple officers responded to the area and saw the suspect walking southbound around the 2400 block of NE Andresen Rd. Officers followed the suspect at slow speed, and for 2 minutes and 30 seconds made multiple, audible PA announcements identifying themselves as police, telling the suspect to stop, announcing that the suspect was under arrest and telling the suspect to show both his hands. The suspect refused the police commands and kept walking away.
One of the responding officers deployed his K9 partner. As the K9 Remi was actively making contact, the suspect pulled out a Gun with his right hand. The footage also shows Nelson clutching what appears to be a knife in his left hand. Four Vancouver officers discharged their firearms striking the suspect. During this incident, the VPD K9's tail was struck by gunfire. Officers rendered medical aid to the suspect prior to him being transported to an area hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased. K9 Remi underwent surgery at an emergency veterinary hospital and was released June 18. The sheriff’s office said that Remi is doing well. Other than the VPD K9, no Vancouver Police Officers or bystanders were physically injured during the incident.
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