LONGVIEW, Wash. — The following story contains gunfire and may be upsetting to some. The video has been redacted and does not show the suspect.
Longview police officers involved in a Sept. 2 shooting have been cleared to return to work. A Seattle man was fatally shot, following an exchange of gunfire with Longview police on, according to investigators at the time, it was the fatal culmination of an apparent drug overdose and car chase through town.
Video from police-worn body cameras showed the moments when Longview police officers shot and killed the armed suspect, then tried to revive him.
KGW obtained the video from the Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team which investigated the shooting. The footage shows Longview police responding following a separate medical call.
Investigators said at 2:00 p.m. on Sept. 2, medical crews responded to Minami Teriyaki at 1208 15th Avenue in Longview. 911 callers reported that a man was passed out in a car in the restaurant drive-thru line.
Paramedics responded and gave the man Narcan, he regained consciousness. Police said that's when the man got aggressive, threatened the paramedics, then drove away while showing signs of impairment. Police said the suspect sped off, tried to elude them and ran a red light.
RELATED: Longview car chase ends in exchange of gunfire; suspect killed by police, investigators say
Longview police blocked in the suspect's orange Dodge Challenger near 19th Avenue and Florida Street.
Video from Longview police officer Matt Dennis' body-worn camera showed him arriving to the scene. The video captures the sound of gunfire which investigators said came from the suspect. Dennis ducked and returned fire through his windshield. Dennis got out of his patrol car and reloaded his gun.
Investigators said three officers returned fire at the suspect: Dennis, Officer Bri Cummo and Officer Seth Libbey. One shot, hit and killed the suspect identified as 30-year-old Louis Earl Johnson Jr. of Seattle.
No officers were injured.
At one point, investigators said Johnson put his gun on the hood of a patrol car. They said the pistol didn't have a serial number and that Johnson had it illegally.
After the shooting, officers pulled Johnson out of his car. They performed first aid but were unable to revive him.
Cowlitz county prosecuting attorneys determined the officers' use of force was justified and they were cleared to return to duty on Oct. 4.