Investigators on Tuesday identified the four Vancouver police officers who fatally shot a 40-year-old Vancouver man June 17 in central Vancouver and the police K-9 that was wounded in the shooting.
It does not appear any of the officers have been involved in prior, local shootings, according to Columbian archives. All of the officers are on critical incident leave, as is standard protocol.
Sgt. James Kelly has been with the Vancouver Police Department since 2015. He previously worked for the Longview Police Department and as a reserve deputy for the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office. He was promoted to sergeant at Vancouver police in 2022 and is assigned to west patrol, according to an update from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, which is investigating the shooting as a part of the Southwest Washington Independent Investigative Response Team.
Officer Jason Haigwood has been with the police department since 2019. He is the handler of K-9 Remi, the dog wounded in the shooting; they are assigned to east patrol, the sheriff’s office said.
Officer Justin Reiner has been with Vancouver police since May 2020. He previously worked at the Maui Police Department. He is assigned to west patrol, according to the sheriff’s office.
Officer Philip Wilkening was hired by the police department in July 2020. He is assigned to east patrol, investigators said.
Remi was shot in the tail during the incident. He was taken to an emergency veterinary hospital, where he underwent surgery. Remi was released from the hospital June 18, and the sheriff’s office said the dog is doing well.
The Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office identified Jonathan West Nelson as the man who was shot. He died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds.
Several people flagged down a Vancouver police officer just before 1 a.m. in the 2800 block of Northeast Andresen Road to report a man had pointed a gun at them near the parking lot of McDonald’s, according to a previous news release from the sheriff’s office.
According to dispatch logs, officers developed probable cause for first-degree assault, the sheriff’s office said.
Additional officers rushed to the area and found Nelson walking south in the 2400 block of Northeast Andresen Road. Haigwood turned Remi onto Nelson when he refused commands to stop, according to investigators.
The four officers fired and hit Nelson after he pointed what appeared to be a gun at them, investigators said. The officers gave him medical aid, but he was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
Investigators are reviewing body camera footage and statements from the officers, the sheriff’s office said.
The shooting was the second fatal police shooting in Vancouver this month. Vancouver police fatally shot 43-year-old Vadim V. Sashchenko on June 8 while responding to a call about an aggressive dog.
