Regional investigators reported Monday that they have finished looking into the February fatal police shooting of a 30-year-old Black man in Hazel Dell.
The Southwest Washington Independent Investigative Response Team, led by the Vancouver Police Department, has sent the case to the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for review and release to the public.
Prosecutor Tony Golik told The Columbian he will forward the case to prosecutors outside of the county who will determine whether Clark County sheriff’s Deputy Sean Boyle was legally justified in using deadly force against Jenoah Donald. Golik said Monday he was still determining which state prosecutor’s office he would send the case to for the legal review.
Before the investigative documents are released to the public, Golik’s staff needs to look through them and redact information that is not subject to public disclosure. That process may take several days, he said, so it’s unclear if the materials would be released later this week.
Sheriff’s office administrators and non-law enforcement community members assigned to the investigation have been briefed on the latest development in the case, the Vancouver Police Department said in a news release.
Lab results tied to the case are still pending, police said. Last week, investigators said they were awaiting information from the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab regarding items that were submitted for processing, including the protective vest worn by Boyle at the time of the shooting.
Boyle fired twice at Donald, of Battle Ground, during the Feb. 4 traffic stop. Investigators said Donald, Boyle and another deputy struggled inside Donald’s Mercedes sedan, and Boyle fired when Donald ignored commands to let him go.
Donald did not possess a firearm, according to preliminary reports.
Investigators have said deputies responded to the area of Northwest Jordan Way because a neighbor called to complain about a “drug house” and reported two suspicious vehicles circling the area.
Donald was shot less than a mile away from the site of the Oct. 29 shooting of Kevin Peterson Jr., a 21-year-old Black man from Camas.
Clark County deputies fatally shot Peterson as he ran from an undercover Xanax pill sting.
