A suspect in a shootout involving a deadly officer killed in a separate shootout Sunday | Local

Thurman did not immediately know if the suspect had shot the police. The authorities are holding the identity of the officers for the moment.

The investigators had identified the suspect after questioning two brothers, one of them coming out of the woods along Modrow Road. They have been identified as Michael Veatch and Matthew Veatch. At that time, they are considered suspects of providing criminal assistance, said the sheriff.

The Sunday night shootout ended a manhunt of nearly 22 hours against those responsible for the murder of DeRosier MP on Fallert Road shortly after 10 pm. Saturday.

DeRosier was shot dead while inspecting a motorhome that was blockading Fallert Road, three miles east of Interstate 5, at the north end of Kalama.

DeRosier died at the PeaceHealth Medical Center in Vancouver shortly after being flown by LifeFlight helicopter, the sheriff's office reported.

DeRosier leaves a wife, Kelly DeRosier, and a five-month-old daughter, Lily, her first child.

He graduated from Kelso High School in 2008 and has been a member of the Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office since 2016. He also graduated from Washington State University in Criminal Justice (2012).

DeRosier "was a boy from Kelso," said county sheriff Brad Thurman.

He was a member of a family deeply rooted in Cowlitz County. Her grandmother, Darlene DeRosier, was a longtime listener in Cowlitz County. By phone Sunday afternoon, DeRosier was too upset to comment.

According to the Cowlitz County Deputy Sheriff, Darren Ullmann, visibly moved, the deputy's daughter's daughter "will always know how incredible her father was."

"Most of us have known him most of his life. There were few cops who wanted to be a cop more than Justin. He loved his job. He was incredibly good at that. And as you can imagine, as I obviously show, it's very personal for our agency. … I had a lot of hope and plans for Justin. I saw him working very quickly in this department. … Justin was a bull in a porcelain shop. … He had a presence not to neglect. He will be with us forever. And he will be missed.

More than a dozen members of the Patriot Guard and the American Legion went to the sheriff's office Sunday afternoon to form a flag line in DeRosier's honor.

About 200 to 300 people, many of them law enforcement, gathered Sunday night at Martin Dock on Lake Sacajawea to pay tribute to DeRosier. They sang "Amazing Grace" and remembered the member.

"I've never met anyone who did not like him," his uncle Layne DeRosier told a reporter, describing his nephew as someone who had a great personality and who wanted to become an officer since he had watched "Cops" in his childhood.

"He was a true hero, but he would not want us to call him that. (For him), it was his job. … Heaven is much safer with him, he said, striving to stay calm.

Sarah Bue, a Kelso resident who had attended high school with Justin DeRosier, went to the vigil with her 10-year-old son Elijah to support the DeRosier family.

"I can not imagine what his family is going through. I know him since a long time. I feel so bad for his wife and little girl. It really touches me, "said Bue.

The day before was organized by Katie Fowler of Longview at the instigation of her 9 year old son, Chase Sanger, after discussing the case in the car on the way home.

"He said," Mom, we have to do something. "This is what we do. There are bad guys out there. It just shows that we will not back down. Our community is strong. "

The shooting occurred about 100 blocks from Fallert Road near Kalama River Road shortly after 10 pm. Saturday. This area, located about three miles east of Interstate 5, remained closed Sunday afternoon, with the exception of local traffic, only on Fallert Road.

Investigators ask the public to avoid the area unless a visit is absolutely necessary.

Justin DeRosier was sent to a disabled motorhome blocking the causeway on Fallert Road. Shortly after his arrival, he was shot. He had reported to police radio that someone was shooting at him.

Police officers from Kalama responded to the rescue and took her to nearby Haydu Park for rescue efforts and to wait for the flight to the hospital.

"The responding officers made efforts to save lives on the scene. The MP was transported by LifeFlight, but unfortunately the MP succumbed to his injuries shortly after his arrival, "according to a sheriff press release.

"It's devastating for all of us," Sheriff Thurman told the Daily News Sunday morning.

He added that all of the sheriff's staff had been sent home, except for those who were investigating the shootings, and that other law enforcement agencies were covering the area. the county during this period of mourning.

Shooting is the first death in service in the agency's history, which dates back to the mid-19th century, said Thurman.

The Clark County Major Crime Unit and several other agencies are investigating the case, said Clark County Sheriff's Office Commander John Horch. This includes evidence from a search warrant, authorities having served in a neighboring residence after the shooting, he said. According to unconfirmed reports, investigators have searched a motorhome found in the area.

"They are doing well," Thurman said of the investigation Sunday night.

DeRosier was hired in 2013 by the Whitman County Sheriff's Office and made gaps as an operator of the SWAT team and boat operator. In 2016, he joined the Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office, where he had served as deputy patrol and boat operator. He was in training to join the drug task force in July, said Thurman.

In January, DeRosier and MP Justin Taylor were assigned to the Pierce County Sheriff's Office following the death of MP Daniel McCartney in the line of duty.

Clark County authorities are asking anyone who has information about this shooting to call Sgt Todd Barsness from the Clark County Major Crime Unit at 360-577-3098 or at Address: [email protected].