Newly filed court records shed light on what led to a fatal shooting Monday night between roommates at a house near Yacolt.
No one has been arrested or charged in the death of 42-year-old Matthew Hansen, who was identified Friday by the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office. The Clark County Sheriff’s Office previously said the homeowner, who is the apparent shooter, is cooperating with law enforcement.
Hansen died of multiple gunshot wounds, according to the medical examiner’s office. His death was ruled a homicide, meaning it resulted from another person’s deliberate action. The ruling does not make any judgments about criminal culpability.
The homeowner called 911 shortly after 7 p.m. to report that he had shot Hansen at 33510 N.E. Kelly Road. He told a dispatcher that Hansen had pulled a gun on him. He said he drew his pistol in response and started shooting, emptying the clip, according to a search warrant affidavit filed Wednesday in Clark County Superior Court.
The man further said Hansen had fired at him, but he was unsure who had fired first, the affidavit states. He said Hansen was a friend of his wife’s who had lived with them for a couple of years. He also told the dispatcher that Hansen was schizophrenic, refused to take his medication and had been violent toward others before.
Deputies who arrived on the scene detained the homeowner without incident. They found Hansen dead from what appeared to be gunshot wounds, according to the affidavit.
The homeowner was taken to the sheriff’s office’s west precinct to be interviewed. He told detectives that he believed he was home alone and went to take a shower. When he came out of the shower, he heard what he described as “demonic” screaming, he told detectives. He tucked his pistol into his waistband and began searching the house, the affidavit states.
He determined the screaming was coming from Hansen’s bedroom, he said, so he knocked on the door. No one answered. When the screaming continued, he opened the door. He said Hansen then exited a bathroom across the bedroom, and he pointed a pistol at the man.
The homeowner drew his pistol to defend himself, he said, and began firing until Hansen went down. He was panicked, he said, and attempted to calm down for a few minutes before calling 911, the affidavit says.
Investigators located a Smith & Wesson 9 mm semi-automatic pistol on the floor near Hansen’s body. They also located nine .45-caliber shell casings on the floor, a 9 mm casing and a .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol on a coffee table in the room, according to the affidavit.
The shooting remains under investigation by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit.
