VANCOUVER, Wash. – A man who died after being shot by police in Vancouver early Tuesday morning was identified Wednesday as 22-year-old Nikkolas W. Lookabill.
Police said the Lookabill was armed with a handgun and was threatening officers around 3:30 a.m. near the intersection of 4th Plain Blvd. and Fruit Valley Road, just west of downtown Vancouver.
A sergeant and two officers fired the shots.
The officers' names were released Wednesday. They are Sgt. John Schultz, 41, an 8-year veteran with the Vancouver Police Department, Frank Gomez, 32, a Vancouver officer for the past 4 years, and Gerardo Gutierrez, 38, with Vancouver the past 2 years. All three officers were put on paid administrative leave, which is standard protocol following a shooting incident.
Friends told KGW Lookabill was a soldier who had just returned from duty in Iraq.
Lookabill's friends said that he was suffering from post-traumatic stress and was afraid of getting sent back to Iraq for another tour of duty.
"I think I heard at least six or eight loud booms. I wasn't aware it was going on, especially in this neighborhood," said Sarah Selby, who lives nearby. "It was chaotic, there was muffled yelling and screaming."
Lookabill died at the scene and police seized his handgun for evidence.
"The male subject was engaging in threatening activity and was refusing police officer commands. The officers on scene fired at the subject, striking him," said Kim Kapp, a spokeswoman for the Vancouver Police Department.
No one else was hurt.
