Holly MatkinVancouver, WA – An alleged drug dealer caught on camera pointing a gun at deputies did not appear to have fired his weapon before he was fatally shot by officers last month, according to investigators.
Clark County Sheriff Chuck Atkins told reporters shortly after the incident that 21-year-old Kevin Peterson “reportedly fired his weapon” at deputies during the Oct. 29 encounter, ABC News reported at the time.
Peterson was carrying a .40-caliber Glock 23 handgun that he allegedly pointed at deputies at least twice prior to the fatal shooting, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported.
Investigators said in an update on Tuesday they have not found any evidence that he ended up firing his gun, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported.
“At this time, detectives do not have evidence that Peterson fired the handgun while in the U.S. Bank lot, based on involved deputy interviews,” the Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team said in a press release. “Additionally, no .40 caliber casings were recovered at the scene.”
The fatal shooting occurred in Hazel Dell at approximately 6 p.m. on Oct. 29, as Clark/Vancouver Drug Task Force detectives were investigating the alleged sale of Xanax pills in a Quality Inn parking lot, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported.
According to court records, Peterson sold 50 Xanax pills to a confidential informant that night, The Columbian reported.
As detectives moved in to arrest Peterson, he suddenly jumped out of his vehicle and took off running, police said, according to ABC News.
“A foot pursuit ensued where deputies from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office were chasing a man with a firearm,” Sheriff Atkins said during a press conference after the incident.
Police said Peterson allegedly dropped the gun at one point and was ordered to leave it on the ground, but he ended up grabbing it back up and running into a forested area, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting.
“Detectives did not pursue further due to Peterson being armed and advised other units by radio that Peterson was armed with a handgun,” the investigative team said in the press release.
The fleeing suspect soon wound up in the parking lot of a U.S. Bank, where he ran into more deputies, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported.
Deputies ordered Peterson to stop, but he ignored them and allegedly pulled a gun out of the pocket of his sweatshirt.
The armed suspect was headed northbound in the direction of yet another group of officers coming from that direction, according to investigators.
Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) Detective Robert Anderson fired at Peterson as he moved further north, KGW reported.
Peterson continued running northbound and allegedly pointed his gun at CCSO Deputy Jonathan Feller, who responded by firing his weapon at Peterson, according to investigators.
The suspect fell to the ground.
According to the investigative team, security footage from the nearby bank showed Peterson as he sat back up and pointed his gun at CCSO Detective Jeremy Brown, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported.
Deputies fired their weapons to save Det. Brown, hitting Peterson multiple times.
“Deputy Brown advised investigators that by the time he fired, Peterson was pointing the handgun at him, and Deputy Brown did not know if he had been shot,” the investigative team said, according to The Columbian.
Because the wounded suspect was still armed with the gun, deputies requested a shield be brought to their location so they could approach him to render first aid, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported.
The shield was brought in just five minutes later, police said.
Peterson died of his wounds at the scene, ABC News reported.
Investigators found a .40-caliber Glock handgun near his body, Battle Ground Police Chief Mike Fort said.
They also allegedly located multiple pre-packaged amounts of Xanax pills during a search of Peterson’s vehicle, according to The Columbian.
The deputies who fired their weapons during the officer-involved shooting have been identified as Det. Brown, 46, Det. Anderson, 42, and Deputy Feller, 46, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting.
They each have well over 10 years of law enforcement experience, The Columbian reported.
All three deputies have been placed on administrative leave, as per protocol, according to ABC News.
Hundreds of Black Lives Matter and antifa followers descended on Vancouver in the wake of the officer-involved shooting, the New York Post reported.
Group of #antifa from Portland continue their protest in support of Kevin Peterson in Vancouver, WA. Peterson was shot dead this week by deputies after firing rounds at them during a chase. His social media is filled w/posts glorifying violent criminality. pic.twitter.com/ObaS0uUZ3L
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) November 1, 2020
BLM-antifa shut down the road in Vancouver, Wash. A person wearing a clown mask waves an antifa flag. pic.twitter.com/MLwO7qDQtF
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) November 1, 2020
The mob soon clashed with a group of counter protesters who were carrying American and pro-President Donald Trump flags, leading to an all-out brawl, videos showed.
Fights breaking out between antifa from Portland and random bar patrons in Vancouver, Wash. pic.twitter.com/jrzF6S3S0p
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) October 31, 2020
According to journalist Andy Ngo, rioters burned American flags, busted out the windows of nearby businesses, cursed law enforcement, and fired guns into the air during the chaos, the New York Post reported.
“Death to your f—ng empire” shouts a man burning the US flag at the BLM-antifa violent protest in Vancouver, Wash. pic.twitter.com/fN94XQI5Gf
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) October 31, 2020
Video footage showed armed men standing outside a bail bonds business to protect it from rioters as the angry mob surrounded them.
Armed men protect a business in Vancouver, Wash. as BLM-antifa rioters from Portland smash up businesses and public property. pic.twitter.com/XKdlKA934D
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) October 31, 2020
A large crowd marched through a residential area and shined lights into people’s homes while chanting, “Wake up, mother—kers!” another clip showed.
BLM-antifa protesters from Portland march through a residential area of Vancouver, Wash. & shine lights into people’s home. They chant for the “mother f—kers” to wake up. #antifa pic.twitter.com/ce2QfaEFBk
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) November 1, 2020
Area law enforcement buildings were vandalized during the night, including the prosecutor’s office, the sheriff’s office headquarters, the juvenile detention center and the adult jail, according to CNN.
One video showed rioters burning an American flag they had allegedly stolen from outside the Washington State Patrol building.
BLM-antifa rioters stole flags from the Washington State Patrol building in Vancouver, Wash. and lit them on fire. They chant about burning every precinct to the ground. #antifa pic.twitter.com/bQIvamwxvY
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) November 1, 2020
“Burn the precinct to the ground!” the mob yelled.
Police declared an unlawful assembly and arrested at least seven people who refused to leave.
