Car Jacking Suspect Dies in Officer Involved Shooting in Oak Harbor

Oak Harbor, WA – Dispatchers with the Oak Harbor Police Department received a 9-1-1 call around 6:36 p.m.  on the evening of September 23rd, 2018. The caller stated a man was attempting to car-jack another  man near the Safeway Store  in Oak Harbor. The victim of the car-jacking described the male as being bloody, disheveled and it looked as if he was reaching for a weapon but no weapon was seen.  The victim was able to successfully get away from the man according to a press release from Washington State Patrol Trooper Heather Axtman.

The male then reportedly walked into the neighboring Oak Harbor Wal-Mart store where he stole ammunition and attempted to steal a gun. Wal-Mart employees reported the male had brandished a knife during the theft.

As the male left the Wal-Mart store he was contacted by Oak Harbor Police Officers and Island County Sheriff’s Deputies nearby.  The male refused to comply with the Officer’s and Deputies commands and shots were fired by an Island County Sheriff’s Deputy, striking the male.  The male was transported to Whidbey General Hospital where he died. No one else was injured in any of these incidents and Trooper Axtman said it is believed the male acted alone in this incident.

The Island County Sheriff’s Office contacted the Skagit Multiple Agency Response Team (SMART), which includes Detectives from several Skagit County Police agencies, to begin conducting a thorough investigation of the incident.

Trooper Axtman said in the press memo the investigation is ongoing.  Additional information will be released as it becomes available.