*** Update ***

This incident is being investigated as a homicide. 

The Vancouver Police Department Major Crimes Unit is continuing the investigation, and nothing further is releasable at this time. 

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Vancouver, Wash. –On May 27, 2023, at approximately 5:45 p.m., Vancouver Police responded to the 4000 block of NE 137^th Avenue. Officers located a 58-year-old male deceased inside the garage. 

Detectives from the Vancouver Police Department Major Crimes Unit are continuing the investigation. The cause and manner of death will be released by the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office. 

Nothing further is releasable at this time. 

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Vancouver, Wash. –On May 30, 2023, at approximately 5:30 p.m., a detective from the Vancouver Police Department Neighborhood Response Team (NRT) spotted a subject driving westbound in the 6700 block of E. Mill Plain Blvd who he recognized as a suspect who was wanted for multiple, recent armed robberies. Two additional NRT detectives arrived in the area and the suspect was seen parking his vehicle and entering the Safeway at Mill Plain Blvd./Andresen Rd. Several minutes later, he was seen exiting the store. When he saw police, he dropped a bag of items, displayed a firearm, ran westbound through the parking lot and during the attempt to apprehend him the suspect fired at officers, and they returned fire. Three Vancouver Police Detectives and one Clark County Sheriff’s Deputy discharged their weapons, striking the suspect.  Law enforcement officers have a fundamental duty to preserve human life, and medical aid was rendered to the suspect, however he was pronounced deceased at the scene. No law enforcement officers were physically injured. 

The three Vancouver Police Officers and the Clark County Sheriff's Office Deputy have been placed on Critical Incident Leave, per standard protocol of their respective agencies. 

The information is preliminary, and this is an ongoing investigation. 

The Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team, led by the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office, will investigate this incident. Additionally, the Vancouver Police Department has notified the Washington State Office of Independent Investigations. 

In compliance with WAC 139-12, Vancouver Police Department and Clark County Sheriff’s Office personnel will not be involved in this investigation.

• The Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office is the case managing agency for this incident.  All future communications will be sent via the Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team.
• The Vancouver Police Department and Clark County Sheriff’s Office will release the names of the officers and deputy involved, at a later time, via the Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team.
• The Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office will release the name of the deceased, at a later date, when appropriate.
• Once the Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team investigation is complete, the case will be forwarded to the Clark County Prosecutor’s Office for review.

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Vancouver, Wash. – On May 8, 2023, Vancouver Police, with assistance from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office Tactical Detective Unit, Vancouver Neighborhood Response Team and SWAT, arrested a 17-year-old male in connection with multiple drive-by shootings (4 in Vancouver, 1 in Clark County and 2 in Portland). 

In an April 4, 2023, drive-by shooting incident that occurred in the 1900 block of E 30^th Street in Vancouver, a white van was seen leaving the area. 

During the course of these investigations, a firearm was recovered from an associate of the suspect. Testing of the gun connected it to several shootings that have occurred in Vancouver, Clark County and in Portland. 

On May 8, 2023, a search warrant was served on the suspect’s house located in the 1900 block of W 31^st St. and the associated vehicle (a white van) which was parked outside the residence. Detectives did not locate the suspect at the residence but did recover a .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle that matched a shooting in Clark County and in Portland, 9mm casings that matched several Vancouver shootings, as well as stolen items from a car prowl. The suspect was located at a second residence in the 9800 block of NE Tanglewood Dr. The suspect and another juvenile male, who is a person of interest in several shooting investigations, were detained without incident. The 17-year-old was taken into custody and booked into the Clark County Juvenile Detention Center for Drive By Shooting and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm. 

The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are pending based on the other connected shooting investigations and evidence linking the recovered weapons.

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Vancouver, Wash. – On April 26, 2023, Vancouver Police made an arrest in connection with an arson investigation being conducted by the joint Fire-Arson Investigation Team, comprised of Vancouver Fire Department and Vancouver Police Department investigators, with the assistance from Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATF) Special Agents. 

This investigation involves a series of six suspicious fires, several which occurred in the North Garrison Heights and Vancouver Heights areas between December 2022-March 2023. Investigators canvassed those area and circulated information regarding the fires to residents and businesses in the area. Tips and information provided by community members played an essential role in helping to identify the suspect. 

On April 26, 2023, Vancouver Police arrested Robert Boomsliter for Arson I in connection with a fire that occurred on January 8, 2023. 

The investigation is continuing. Anyone with information on any unreported suspicious fire incidents within last six months are encouraged to contact the Vancouver Fire Department or Vancouver Police Department by calling 9-1-1.

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Vancouver, Wash. –On April 29, 2023, Vancouver Police responded to the 3900 block of E 18^th Street on a call to assist emergency medical personnel after a male, later identified as Kemawi “Eric” Simon, 32 years of age, called 9-1-1 to report he and his partner had gotten into a fight and his partner was not breathing. When emergency personnel arrived, they located a 59-year-old male in the bathroom of the residence deceased. 

Detectives from the Vancouver Police Department Major Crime Unit began investigating. 

On May 4, 2023, Vancouver Police arrested Kemawi “Eric” Simon for Manslaughter II-DV. 

The identity, cause and manner of death of the victim will be released by the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office. 

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