Man killed by officers after allegedly pointing gun at people in McDonald’s parking lot ID’d

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A man who was shot to death by Vancouver police on Monday is being identified as 40-year-old Jonathan West Nelson.

Vancouver police said that they responded shortly before 1 a.m. on Monday morning on reports of a man near Northeast Andersen Road pointing a gun at people in a McDonald’s parking lot.

After locating the suspect a few blocks away, police said the man did not listen to commands, so they released a K9 on him. The man then allegedly pointed the gun at law enforcement and four police officers returned fire, striking him. They also shot the dog in the tail by mistake, officials said.

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Authorities said they tried to render aid to the man, who was later transported to a hospital. But he was later declared dead. The dog underwent surgery on its tail.

West, who was later identified as the suspect, died of “multiple gunshot wounds” on the public sidewalk, the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office said in a release Thursday.

William Buschtschosik, a witness in the incident, told KOIN 6 News he heard several shots ringing out when it happened, in a “rapid fire” succession.

The four involved police officers were all placed on critical incident leave, per standard protocol. Authorities said the Clark County Sheriff’s Office is conducting an independent investigation into the shooting and that body camera footage will eventually be released.

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