Investigation: Man shot three times in abdomen

RITZVILLE — The motorist who died April 12 after an altercation with police was shot three times in the abdomen.

Shawn Lee, 48, of Susanville, Calif., died at a local hospital from the injuries, according to updated information released by the Columbia Basin Investigative Team, which is reviewing the officer-involved death.

Ritzville officer Jeff Lane fired the shots after first Tasing Lee, who was charging him while wielding a machete in the parking lot of Love’s Travel Stop and Country stores, according to the team.

Lane remains on administrative leave during the investigation, which is standard operating procedure.

The shooting at the travel center, 1370 N. State Highway 261, remains under investigation.

Lee, who lives with his wife and nephew was on a weekend get-away to Sand Point, Idaho, with his 27-year-old son when his vehicle broke down Friday, April 11, according to investigative records. The vehicle was towed to Love’s.

According to a dispatch log submitted to The Journal by Police Chief Dave McCormick, the department responded to the location three times April 11.

Just before 1 a.m., according to the report, an officer made contact with a subject in the parking lot after being flagged down.

The subject told the officer he was being extorted, and that his family had put cameras and listening devices in his pickup.

The subject allegedly became agitated and walked off, telling the officer he was done talking to him.

According to the report, the officer next spoke with the subject’s son, who told him they had recently become reunited after several years and were going to see his sister.

The sister did not have a vehicle, but was trying to find a way to come get them, the report said. The officer reportedly tried to talk with the subject again, and was told by Lee that he was done talking.

At 3:24 a.m., a call was received from the same subject requesting an officer again, the log shows.

The dispatcher told the officer the subject said his vehicle had cameras in it, it was bugged, and his cellphone was being monitored. According to the report, the subject was given the number to the FBI at his request.

The report states the subject rambled on about his family extorting him and not allowing his wife to answer his phone calls, the report shows.

“The officer did not have a reason to detain the subject for an evaluation, even though he was talking about things that did not make much sense,” the report said.

At 9:37 p.m., the dispatch log reports a request for a welfare check on a man hearing voices at Love’s. The log said the man had a sword.

Contact was made with the man, who denied having a sword and said he did not need help, the report said.

The investigative team confirmed police received three calls about the man identified as Lee beginning early Saturday; two of the calls were from Lee himself.

“In these calls, Lee made allegations about being tracked and that his pickup was being bugged,” an investigative team report said. “Additionally, family members from out of the area called police to say Lee was suicidal and in possession of a sword.”

According to the investigative team, officers contacted Lee, who denied the allegations; and the son reported the situation was under control, so officers cleared the scene.

Late Saturday evening, at approximately 11:30 p.m., Lee’s son went inside Love’s Travel Stop and asked for help, the report said.

Law enforcement were called and Ritzville officer Jeff Lane and Washington State Patrol Trooper Nathaniel Romaneschi responded.

Shortly after officers arrived, Lee exited a parked car and began swinging a machete aggressively, a report said. Lee allegedly ignored both the officers and his son, who attempted to intervene.

Lee allegedly began to advance on the officers. Lane zapped Lee with his Taser, which had no effect on him, according to the report.

“Lee continued to close the distance on the officers, swinging the machete, when Lane fired from his department-issue firearm at a range of approximately 10 feet,” the report states. “The bullets struck Lee and caused him to drop the machete.”

Lane fire three bullets from his department-issued 9mm, investigators said.

According to the report and one witness interviewed by The Journal, after an ambulance was called, both officers attempted life-saving first aid on Lee.

Lee was transported to East Adams Rural Healthcare, where he was pronounced dead.

Lane, who has been employed part-time for the Police Department for the past several years, has never before been involved in a shooting while working for the city, Chief McCormick said.

Lane is also a full-time Adams County Sheriffs Office deputy. The Sheriff’s Office did not respond to calls regarding Lane’s possible involvement in any shooting incidents while on-duty or whether he is on leave at that agency.

Meanwhile, the investigation will take several weeks to complete, a spokesman for the team said. The outcome of the investigation will help determine if and when Lane returns to active duty for the city.

According to the report, most of the confrontation was captured on a dash camera.

“The in-car dash camera belongs to the WSP and we are still in the process of analyzing its contents and plan on getting it released sometime in the near future,” the team said.

The investigative team includes Team Captain Ryan Green with 19 years experience, Team Deputy Commander Chief Deputy Canfield with 13 years, Sgt. Kyle McCain with 14 years, detective Kyle Cox with 20 years, detective Adam Munro with 10 years, detective Brad Poldervart with 15 years and detective Stephen Harder with five years.

Additionally, two community members, whose names have yet to be released, are a part of the review.