TRI-CITIES, Wash.- The Special Investigations Unit continues to investigate the officer-involved shooting in Kennewick on June 4 involving a suspect and an Benton County Sheriff’s Deputy.
The incident that led to the shooting began around 8:14 p.m. on June 4 when Richland Police pursued a stolen vehicle. The chase went through Richland and into Kennewick and involved multiple law enforcement agencies.
According to the SIU, the 31-year-old driver of the stolen vehicle being chased by police entered Columbia Center Blvd. going south in the northbound lane.
The suspect tried to cross the median, hit the curb and came to a stop in the grass at Bank of America. He then ran from the car to the US Bank parking lot and attempted to take another car at gunpoint according to the SIU update.
Benton County Sheriff’s Deputy Elias Perez fired his patrol rifle and hit the suspect according to the SIU’s update. Law enforcement attempted life-saving measures and the suspect was transported to the hospital where they later died of their injuries.
The SIU’s investigation into the incident and officer-involved shooting is ongoing. Anyone with any information on the case is asked to contact Sergeant Brad Gary at gregoryg@pasco-wa.gov (509) 544-3069 or Commander Marcus Conner at mconner@co.franklin.wa.us (509) 546-3353.