Special Unit Now Investigating Yakima Shooting
Officers with the Yakima Valley Special Investigative Unit have identified the 27-year-old suspect shot by Yakima Police Officers on Saturday as Jose Trinidad Dealba. They say he remains at Harborview Medical clinic in serious but stable condition. When he's released he'll be placed in the Yakima County jail. He's facing charges including 3 counts of First-Degree Assault, First Degree Possession of a Firearm, Second Degree Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Possession of a Stolen Firearm. Two Yakima Police Officers remain on administrative leave as the investigation is underway this week to determine if they were justified in firing shots.
Authorities were found the man after searching for him on Saturday
Authorities were searching for the suspect on felony assault charges when they found him walking in the 800 block of North 20th Avenue. Officers chased the suspect into the 1800 block of Jerome Avenue. While police were chasing the suspect he was pointing a handgun at them and that's when two officers shot the suspect. After the shooting the officers tried to help the man while they called for an ambulance. A news release says "the suspect was transported to Yakima Memorial Hospital and then to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with what are believed to be non-life-threatening injuries."
No Officers were injured during the incident.
The special unit in Yakima is now handling the investigation
Now a major investigation is underway by the Yakima Valley Special Investigative Unit (YVSIU), a team of supervisors, investigators, crime scene investigators and evidence technicians from various Yakima County law enforcement agencies and Washington State Patrol.
"The team includes civilian community members who observe the criminal investigation and related processes, per the Law Enforcement Training and Community Safety Act. When the YVSIU investigation is complete, the results will be forwarded to the Yakima County Prosecutors Office for review."
The investigation in ongoing. The names of the involved Officers are not being released at this time.