Jonathan Gale Obituary – The Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the man who was shot and killed by deputies as 53-year-old Jonathan Gale. Gale succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds to the torso, according to officials. The incident has resulted in five deputies being placed on paid leave, although it has not been disclosed how many of them fired their weapons.
Law enforcement officers who are present during a fatal use of force incident are often put on paid leave, even if they did not directly participate. Deputies had responded to a 911 call from a woman requesting a welfare check on her mother in Brush Prairie, Washington. Upon arrival, deputies were informed that the woman was being held against her will and had been sexually assaulted by the male at the residence.
The exact sequence of events leading up to the shooting is unclear. Investigators stated that the deputies believed the man was armed, but it has not been confirmed if he was holding a gun at the time. The male was shot outside his RV, and a firearm was found in close proximity to him.
The woman was taken to a hospital for evaluation, but the extent of her injuries is unknown. Many questions remain unanswered, including the specifics of the events leading up to the shooting.