VANCOUVER, Wash. (KOIN) — A suspected car thief died Wednesday morning after authorities said the suspect rammed into a deputy’s SUV — leading to an officer-involved shooting.
The Clark County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded to a report of a car being stolen in the Orchards area at 4:40 a.m.
When deputies arrived in the area of Northeast 109th Avenue and 71st Street, they found the stolen pickup truck with the suspect inside. Witnesses said the suspect likely got stuck in a dead-end cul-de-sac and when he tried to get away, he hit a parked car and then hit a deputy’s patrol vehicle.
Shots were fired and the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.
On Thursday, he was identified as David Villagran of Kelso. The 33-year-old died of a gunshot wound to the head.
“I heard a gunshot go off and so I came outside and tried to observe and the whole entire neighborhood was filled with police cars and officers,” neighbor Hayley Smith said.
The deputy suffered minor injuries and was treated and released from a nearby hospital. The deputy, 20-year veteran Tom Maxfield, is on leave according to protocol.