PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Before the shots that killed Jason Washington were fired, witnesses say he was just protecting his friend from getting into trouble.
Investigation materials obtained by KOIN 6 News show Washington’s friend Jeremy Wilkinson was kicked out of several bars before the shooting.
“His friend was cut off, his friend was kicked out, Jason didn’t do one thing wrong,” security guard Derrial Peterson told KOIN 6 News.
Read more: Body cams, documents reveal details in fatal shooting
Peterson, the security guard at Rialto Pool Room, said he talked to Washington for more than an hour before everything happened.
“He was really positive and talked about his wife and their marriage and how great of a person she was and talked about being a grandpa, which he was stoked about,” Peterson said.
Things took a turn when Wilkinson was cut off and asked to leave the bar. Wilkinson became argumentative.
“He grabs the beer to try to continue to drink, I grab it from him and the beer spills on his hands so he takes his hands and then he wipes them across my chest,” Peterson said.
Then Peterson said he pushed Wilkinson and kicked him out.
“He is walking away he lifts up his right shirt to show me he was carrying a weapon,” Peterson said. “If you know you’re going to be drinking alcohol why are you carrying a firearm?”
Wilkinson denied showing Peterson his gun, but said the gun may have been revealed if his shirt was lifted, according to documents.
Documents reveal it was that same gun Washington was carrying when he was shot by Portland State University officers James Dewey and Shawn McKenzie. Washington did have a concealed weapon permit.
According to multiple witness accounts given to police, Washington took Wilkinson’s gun at some point after they left the Rialto to prevent Wilkinson from getting into further trouble. Wilkinson told police he believed he gave the gun to Washington after they exited the Cheerful Tortoise.
“When I saw the video, I saw he was trying so hard, he was trying to keep the peace,” Peterson said. “Not just his friend, but everyone. It’s just unfortunate that it happened.”
KOIN 6 News reached out to Wilkinson but he declined to comment.