The man shot Thursday night by Clark County sheriff’s deputies was Vancouver resident Jenoah Donald, a 30-year-old Black man.
The Vancouver Police Department, which is leading the investigation, confirmed his identity in a news release Saturday afternoon. Donald remains hospitalized, according to the release.
According to Vancouver police, four deputies made a traffic stop at 7:41 p.m. Thursday near Northeast 68th Street and Northeast Second Avenue in Hazel Dell, and one of the deputies shot Donald, the driver.
Donald was then transported to a hospital, which police did not name, where he remains.
The Southwest Washington Independent Investigative Team, led by the Vancouver Police Department, is conducting the investigation into the shooting and has not released details about why deputies initiated the traffic stop, nor how many shots were fired at Donald. The deputies have been placed on critical incident leave, which is standard protocol.
Donald was shot less than a mile from where Clark County sheriff’s deputies killed Kevin Petersen Jr., a 21-year-old Black man, about three months ago.
The NAACP Vancouver Branch 1139 issued a statement Saturday afternoon, saying that Donald’s family does not want any public demonstrations at the moment. The NAACP asked that people honor the family’s wishes right now.
“If you wish to be a part of helping us hold Clark County accountable you can also submit comments to Clark County Sheriff Office and VPD demanding transparency and urgency in the investigation and release of information,” the NAACP press release states. “Beyond these local entities you can also reach out to your state representatives.”
The NAACP statement also directs people who want to help to a GoFundme page set up for Donald, which says that he is in an intensive care unit. According to the GoFundme page, doctors have told Sue Zawacky, Donald’s mother, that there is nothing they can do to save his life. The GoFundme has been set up to help the family raise funds for Donald’s funeral.
