Vancouver police identify two officers involved in fatal shooting

The law enforcement agency leading the investigation into a Vancouver police shooting involving a domestic violence suspect has identified the two officers involved and placed on leave.

Vancouver police Officers Rotha Yong and Brandon Riedel fired their weapons during the incident, according to a news release from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office. The news release does not indicate whose gunfire struck Andrew A. Williams, 41, of Portland.

Williams’ death was caused by a gunshot wound to the abdomen, according to the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office. His manner of death is listed as homicide, meaning it resulted from another person’s deliberate action. The ruling does not make any judgments about criminal culpability.

Yong, 39, was hired by the Vancouver Police Department in February 2009. She is currently assigned to west precinct patrol, according to the sheriff’s office, which is leading the Southwest Independent Investigative Response Team investigating the shooting.

Riedel, 26, was hired by the police department in July 2018. He is also assigned to west precinct patrol.

Both officers have been placed on critical incident leave, which is standard procedure following police shootings.

Officers were dispatched at 11:15 p.m. Sunday to the 2600 block of T Street for a report of an assault with a weapon. Williams forced his way into an apartment and stabbed his girlfriend, according to the Vancouver Police Department. Several people inside the apartment were able to get him back outside, where he confronted officers, the police department said.

“The suspect refused police commands to drop his weapon. Two Vancouver police officers fired their weapons, striking the suspect,” police said.

Williams died Monday at a hospital. The sheriff’s office said Tuesday that “victims of the initial domestic violence assault were treated for injuries sustained during the original assault and released the following day from the hospital.”