Black man’s fatal shooting by police near Portland sparks protests

The fatal shooting by police of a young black man near Portland, Oregon, has sparked protests.

The man, identified by family members to media and authorities as Kevin Peterson, Jr., 21, was shot and killed around 6 p.m. Thursday in Hazel Dell, an unincorporated area in Clark County in southwestern Washington, 18 miles north of Portland.

Clark County Sheriff Chuck Atkins said in a statement Friday that detectives from a drug task force were conducting a narcotics investigation and that Peterson was killed by MPs following a lawsuit walk.

“A foot chase ensued where deputies from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office were chasing a man with a gun,” the sheriff said. Adding that the information he has is that the man “allegedly” fired his gun at the deputies. MPs fought back and the subject was tragically killed. “

The sheriff also said, “There is a lot about this situation that I don’t know.” Because an independent investigative team is investigating the shooting, “I’ll wait with you to find out more about most of the details.”

The Southwest Washington Independent Investigation Team, responsible for the investigation, said in a statement officers saw Peterson “produce a handgun” during a chase and a gun was found near his body after being shot. The investigative team did not say whether Peterson fired the gun.

Task force officers ran into Peterson alone in his car in a motel parking lot, and he was suspected of dealing drugs, according to the press release. When officers approached the vehicle, he fled on foot, the statement said.

“Shortly after the start of the foot pursuit, the man produced a handgun and the police backed up,” the statement said.

Shortly after, the man met three MPs “who all discharged their pistols,” the statement said.

After the shooting, investigators found a pistol near Peterson’s body, according to the press release.

All officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave, which is normal when an investigation is underway, authorities said.

Peterson’s partner Olivia Selto told The Oregonian that she was on the phone with him at the time of the shooting. She said he was running during the phone call and she heard several gunshots. She said she did not know what led to the encounter with the police.

“I don’t know what happened except he was running and I heard more than 15 gunshots and I heard him fall,” she told the outlet. “I told him I loved him as many times as I could, and he said it back. “

The two had just welcomed a baby girl, she said.

His father, Kevin Peterson Sr., said his son was “a good kid,” the Oregonian reported.

Hundreds of people gathered at Hazel Dell on Friday night for a vigil where they lit candles and chanted Peterson’s name and “Black Lives Matter,” NBC subsidiary KGW in Portland, Oregon reported. A small group of counter-demonstrators gathered in front of the vigil.

After the end of the vigil around 9:30 p.m., the demonstrators marched through the streets.