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Man shot and killed by law enforcement at tow yard in Columbia County

An official said the man was a suspect in the March 27 shooting death of a 25-year-old victim at a Gresham storage facility.

SCAPPOOSE, Ore. — A man was shot and killed by law enforcement at a tow yard in Scappoose on Thursday morning, according to the Washington County Sheriff's Office (WCSO).

The man was identified Friday as 39-year-old Michael Stockton, a suspect in a deadly shooting that occurred four days earlier at a Gresham storage facility. 

WCSO detective Shannon Wilde said law enforcement was called out to Grumpy's Towing, located at 53279 Columbia River Highway in Scappoose, just before 10 a.m. Thursday for a "disturbance." 

The first to arrive on scene were an Oregon State trooper and a Columbia County deputy. WCSO said Stockton shot at the officers. Both of them returned fire, killing the suspect. 

Erik Tyler, a witness who works at a neighboring business, spoke to KGW's Mike Benner about what he heard.

"It was quick, at first I thought it was someone working on a house with nail guns," Tyler said. "And then I realized my wife was out front and I had my dogs and I heard, 'pop, pop, pop,' and I realized it was guns. ... I got everyone inside, we laid low for a little bit, waited for the cops to come tell us we're alright."

Tyler said he heard police yell out multiple times to put down a weapon or they would use force and shoot. 

WATCH: WCSO detective gives update on shooting

Briefing on law enforcement shooting in Scappoose

Posted by Mike Benner - KGW on Thursday, March 31, 2022

Investigators later confirmed that Stockton had two firearms in his possession at the time of the shooting. A law enforcement official told KGW he was a suspect in the March 27 shooting death of 25-year-old Timothy Fowlkes at the Money Saver Mini Storage facility near Northeast Halsey Street and 192nd Avenue.

The WCSO Major Crimes Team is investigating the shooting. 

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