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Police identify man killed by police after shooting at St. Helens gas station

An officer used "deadly force" to kill the suspect. Oregon State Police told KGW that they are not investigating an officer-involved shooting.

ST. HELENS, Ore. — A police officer killed a suspect after a shooting at a gas station in St. Helens and a chase on Highway 30 Wednesday morning.

Oregon State Police on Thursday said the man who died was 32-year-old Michael Thomas Veatch of Washington.

St. Helens police officers responded to a shooting at a Chevron gas station, located at 115 North Columbia River Highway, at 5:26 a.m. Wednesday, according to Oregon State Police.

Veatch drove away from the scene, leading police on a chase north on Highway 30.

During the chase, the Veatch's vehicle was disabled and he fled on foot, OSP said. A St. Helens officer used "deadly force" to kill Veatch.

Police have not said how Veatch died. An OSP spokesperson told KGW that police are not investigating an officer-involved shooting.

The officer involved in the incident has been placed on administrative leave, per police policy.

OSP called the incident a "very dynamic situation" with several scenes under investigation. Numerous witnesses were involved and there is a large volume of evidence, police said.

Highway 30 was closed in both directions at Deer Island, about halfway between St. Helens and Rainier, all day Wednesday, but it reopened at 6 p.m.

Anyone with information related to the Wednesday morning shooting is asked to call the Oregon State Police tip line at 503-375-3555.

VIDEO: Highway 30 closed north of St. Helens (live stream)

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