Vancouver police officers and a Clark County sheriff's deputy opened fire Tuesday evening, killing a man wanted for several armed robberies, the Vancouver Police Department said late Tuesday night.
Police spotted the man at around 5:30 p.m. driving westbound in the 6700 block of East Mill Plain Boulevard.
Police said the suspect was seen parking his vehicle and entering the Safeway at 6701 East Mill Plain Blvd.
A few minutes later, the man left the store and when he saw police, he dropped his grocery bag and, police said, drew a gun. The man ran west through the parking lot.
When police tried to take him into custody, police said the man fired at them. Three Vancouver police detectives and a deputy returned fire, hitting the man.
Police said they tried to save the man's life, but he died at the scene.
The Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team, led by the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office, is investigating the shooting.
The three officers and the deputy have been placed on leave, which is standard practice in police shootings.
During their investigation, police blocked off most of Safeway's parking lot. The shooting, however, happened at the side of the Heights shopping center next to a store that said Medical Supply.
Police used drones and spoke to witnesses as part of their investigation.
Police at the scene told KATU News officers will be at the location until at least 2 a.m. Wednesday.
No law enforcement personnel were injured.
The identity of the suspect has not been released.
This wasn't the first time a deadly shooting happened at this shopping center this year. Another one happened two and a half months ago, where a 28-year-old man died and three others were wounded. Police arrested two people in that shooting.