APD Officers Involved in Shooting

A suspected gunman is being held in a Portland hospital after an officer-involved shooting at a motel in Astoria Sunday at 5:30pm. Astoria police officers responded to a call that officials say involved ‘suspicious circumstances' at the Lamplighter Motel on Marine Drive. When officers attempted to make contact with a suspect at the motel, they were fired on. Clatsop County District Attorney Josh Marquis explains the sequence of events.

Marquis1.wav “One of the officers knocked on the door and attempted to make contact with the subject, who opened the door and refused entry. The officer was dressed in a uniform very much like Brad’s, clearly identifying himself as a police officer. In very short order the subject in the room started firing with what we believe was a handgun. Officers took cover, two officers returned fire, apparently we don’t know ...the suspect, who is now in a Portland hospital received two wounds, apparently gunshot wounds, which after being treated at Columbia Memorial Hospital, do not appear to be at this point life-threatening. Despite the fact that he had been shot, he got in his...a van, a Chrysler late model van and took off at very high speeds through Astoria, Warrenton, Gearhart, Seaside, at a very high rate of speed. I think Astoria officers were involved in the pursuit. I don’t know how many other agencies. The sheriff’s office eventually put out spike strips, also did what is called a pit maneuver, and at the cost of a sheriff’s car, managed to stop the vehicle at about milepost 8 on Highway 26.” (1:25)

The suspect was treated at Columbia Memorial Hospital before transfer to Portland. Three Astoria police officers were placed on Administrative leave following the shooting, a standard procedure, according to Marquis. A grand jury will be convened for possible charges against the suspect, that could include attempted aggravated murder. The suspect is believed to about 40 years old, and a resident of Southwest Washington state. Astoria Deputy Chief Brad Johnston said his name could not yet be released.

Johnston1.wav “With his identity, one of our concerns is, we have a least two names for him.......positively prior to releasing his information. (:09)

Three Astoria police officers responded in the incident. One is a recent recruit who has been out of the academy for about seven weeks. He was not one of the officers who fired. One police officer was treated for a minor injury and released. Officials say the suspect will require several surgeries.

photo: Astoria Deputy Chief Brad Johnston, left, and Clatsop County District Attorney Josh Marquis at a press conference Monday