Deputy Shoots and Kills Suspect After Wild Chase From Washington Into Oregon

An officer from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) is on administrative leave following his involvement in the fatal shooting of a suspect near Merrill Creek on Sunday.

Oregon State Police is Investigating

Oregon State Police (OSP) is investigating the shooting involving the officer, Deputy Sean Luedke, under the guidance of the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office.

According to OSP, the CCSO was in pursuit of a white Kia Optima in Deer Island when the suspect, identified as 47-year-old Kyle Davis Graham, lost control of the vehicle, careening down an embankment before coming to rest near Merrill Creek.

The officer confronted the suspect, and shots were fired. Graham was struck. Reinforcements from the CCSO and Rainier Police Department arrived on the scene, but the suspect died despite life-saving measures by officers and medics.

There were no other injuries during the incident.

OSP states that on the day before the shooting, the suspect had also eluded officers from the Washington State Patrol, crossing over the Lewis and Clark Bridge from Washington into Oregon.