On Monday, the Benton County Coroner's Office is confirming the death of a suspect who was shot by a Benton County Sheriff's Deputy Sunday evening.
The suspect is not yet identified. However, we know an autopsy is set to take place on Wednesday.
Law enforcement agencies across the attempted to bring a suspect wanted for stealing at least 7 cars and other felony charges, into custody.
Over the course of the day, agencies from all around the region gave chase to the suspect repeatedly, but each time they had to terminate the pursuit due to safety concerns. The suspect even went as far as to ram several patrol vehicles and pointed a firearm at officers in an attempt to get away. Officials say that despite using several methods to try and stop the suspect, he continued to elude them and steal other cars.
However, shortly after 8:30 P.M., officers with the Kennewick Police Department located the suspect and began pursuing him once again.
Eventually, the suspect lost control of the stolen Audi A7, crashing into the front lawn of the Bank Of America on Columbia Center Boulevard, disabling the car. He then bailed out and continued on foot, towards the Columbia Center Mall.
Just before 8:45 P.M., officials say the suspect pointed a gun at a vehicle in an attempt to carjack it. Right as this happened, a deputy with the Benton County Sheriff's Office pulled into the parking lot at the U.S. Bank, and an officer-involved shooting took place.
The Benton County Sheriff's Office says other arriving officers immediately began to perform lifesaving measures on the suspect, and that he was taken to a local hospital in unknown condition.
As required by state law, the Special Investigations Unit, or SIU, was called to the scene to investigate the incident. During their investigation, traffic in both directions on Columbia Center Boulevard at Quinault was closed, but all lanes in both directions were reopened just passed 2 A.M.
Officials say that no deputies or officers were hurt in the shooting and that there is no longer any threat to the public.