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4 Vancouver police officers who shot, killed man on June 17 identified

Several people reported that the man had pointed a gun at them. He later pointed a gun at police, and four police officers shot him, Vancouver police said.

VANCOUVER, Wash. — Four Vancouver police officers who shot and killed a man on June 17 have been identified. The man is accused of pointing a gun at a group of people and police officers, according to the Vancouver Police Department (VPD).  
Around 12:51 a.m., several people flagged down an officer who was driving on Northeast Andresen Road and reported that a man, later identified as 40-year-old Jonathan West Nelson, pointed a gun at them. The man was walking southbound, according to VPD.

Vancouver police said, more officers responded and found Nelson, who did not listen to police commands to stop. An officer deployed his K-9 to contact him. He pointed a gun at police and four police officers fired shots, hitting him. Nelson was taken to a hospital where he died.

On June 25, the Southwest Washington Independent Investigation Response Team, which is investigating the deadly shooting, released the names of the four police officers: 

  • Sgt. James Kelly, hired by VPD in 2015.
  • Officer Jason Haigwood, hired by VPD in 2019.
  • Officer Justin Reiner, hired by VPD in 2020.
  • Officer Philip Wilkening, hired by VPD in 2020.

The four police officers are on critical incident leave, which is standard protocol.

A man who was experiencing homelessness and wanted to remain anonymous witnessed the shooting. "A gentleman was waving his gun around and all of a sudden we hear shots go off and he went down...rapid gunfire from all angles," he said. 

The Vancouver police K-9, named Remi, was shot in the tail and taken to an emergency veterinary hospital for surgery. K-9 Remi was released from the hospital on June 18 and is recovering. No Vancouver police officers were injured.

"It was just a crazy event. It was sad and very unfortunate...I was just shocked. It was a sad thing to see," the witness said. 

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