Man shot by police outside Vancouver Safeway and involved officers identified

VANCOUVER Wash. (KPTV) – The Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office has released the names of the four police officers on Thursday who were involved in a shooting outside a Vancouver Safeway that left a wanted man dead at the end of May.

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The involved officers are:

Detective Colton Price of the Vancouver Police Department. Price works on the Safe Streets Task Force and is currently assigned as a detective on the Neighborhood Response Team. He has been with the Vancouver Police Department since 2012.

Officer Brandon Riedel of the Vancouver Police Department. Riedel is currently assigned to the East Precinct Patrol and has been with the Vancouver Police Department since 2018.

Detective Aaron Yoder of the Vancouver Police Department. Yoder is currently assigned to the Neighborhood Response Team and is also a part of a tactical unit. He has been with the Vancouver Police Department since 2015.

Detective Zach Nielsen of the Clark County Sheriff’s Office. Nielsen is currently assigned to the Sheriff’s Office Tactical Detectives Unit and has been with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office since 2016.

On May 30, a 43-year-old Vancouver man, identified as Joshua James Wilson, who was wanted on several active warrants, was seen entering the Safeway in the 6700 block of East Mill Plain Boulevard.

The Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office, Clark County Sheriff’s Office and the Vancouver Police Neighborhood Response Team sent officers to take Wilson into custody, deputies said.

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Wilson had been identified in the following recent incidents, according to the CCSO:

• Commercial Burglary, 2400 E. Evergreen Blvd, Vancouver – May 20, 2023
• Armed Robbery, 6510 E. Mill Plain Blvd, Vancouver – May 21, 2023
• Armed Robbery, 1901 Kauffman Ave, Vancouver – May 29, 2023

According to officials, law enforcement formed near Wilson’s car, identifying themselves before he fled westbound on foot.

In obtained videos, the CCSO says Wilson is seen pointing a pistol directly at a police officer before gunfire ensues from three officers and one deputy.

Despite first-aid, Wilson was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team investigation of this incident is ongoing.

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