Posted on 08/17/2016 4:19:06 PM PDT by Inspectorette
KELSO — Authorities say a Kelso (WA) patrolman shot and killed a man Wednesday morning who attacked a gas station clerk, a customer, and the officer himself with a walking stick.
Cowlitz County Sheriff Mark Nelson told a news conference later in the morning that the suspect, a 27-year-old man described as a transient, was reported to have shoplifted from a gas station food mart in West Kelso.
The officer, identified as John Johnston, responded about 8 a.m. to take a report. As the officer and one of the clerks were reviewing surveillance footage in an office, the man returned to the store and began striking a clerk and a customer with the stick, according to the news release.
Nelson said the officer tried to intervene but was struck in the head. He was also injured in the arm and leg, police said. He then shot the suspect, who has not been identified.
Johnston is a 22-year member of the Kelso police department. Johnston, the clerk and the customer were taken to a hospital by ambulance, and all have been treated and released.
The sheriff said the suspect had been contacted by law enforcement several times in the past week, including an arrest last weekend.
Kelso is in Washington's Cowlitz County, east of Longview.
The Longview Daily News reported the incident occurred at the Flying K gas station, at First Avenue and West Main at the foot of the Allen Street Bridge.
The paper, citing Kelso Police Chief Andrew Hamilton, said it was unclear how many shots had been fired.
Longview police and the Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office are investigating, the standard practice for other agencies to investigate officer-involved shootings, the paper said. The report will be updated as details emerge.
Your turn, Kelso. Hope you like your gas stations well done.
I don’t remember that scene. Is that Jackie?
The one is Kelso, I think.
The man who was shot dead was a transient. People to whom I have mentioned this incident don’t seem particularly concerned over what might happen.
Well, you live in a pretty town.
My Dad worked at one of the pulp mills.
I had lots of uncles who worked at the pulp mills.
That big bridge over the Columbia used to really scare me when I was little.
Lots of good memories of Longview/Kelso.
The pic isn’t showing up, but I remember her. :)
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