PASCO, Wash. — A multi-agency investigation is underway in Pasco after a traffic stop conducted by the Richland Police Department ended in a fatal shooting Wednesday morning.
The incident occurred just before 6 a.m. near Argent Road and Road 103. The traffic stop was conducted by a Richland police officer who was part of a multi-agency operation assisting with a federal Internet Crimes Against Children investigation.
According to Claire Venema with the Richland Police Department, the detective involved observed the driver, identified as Christopher Derrick of Pasco, pull out a gun before shots were fired.
“The individual that they were attempting to contact was struck by gunfire,” said Lt. Thomas Groom of the Pasco Police Department. “They were transported to a local area hospital, and they are deceased.”
Venema confirmed that medics transported Derrick to the hospital, where he later died of his injuries.
The shooting is now under investigation by the Special Investigation Unit (SIU). Lt. Groom, serving as the public information officer for the SIU, said the unit was activated immediately following the incident.
“Special investigations unit has been activated,” Groom said. “They'll be conducting the investigation into the officer-involved shooting. That may take several days.”
Washington state law requires that officer-involved shootings be investigated by an independent organization. The SIU fills that role by utilizing officers and detectives from agencies not involved in the incident. The unit comprises personnel from the Pasco, Kennewick and Richland police departments, as well as the Franklin County, Benton County and Walla Walla sheriff’s offices.
The Richland detective involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave. Venema stated that the original federal investigation involving the Internet Crimes Against Children task force is separate from the shooting investigation. The Richland Police Department is cooperating with the SIU and appropriate federal authorities as both investigations proceed.
The officers present at the time of the shooting have not yet been named. Names will be released at a later date as the investigation moves forward.
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