Kennewick police kill man suspected of pulling a gun. He ran when they asked his name

One man is dead and at least one Kennewick police officer is on administrative leave following a late-night shooting near the Columbia River, less than a mile from downtown.

The name of the man who died Sunday has yet to be released.

Kennewick police said only in a Facebook post that he was an adult.

Family told the Tri-City Herald that he was Gordon Whitaker, 45, of West Richland.

The investigation into the officer-involved shooting is being handled by the regional Special Investigations Unit, which includes specially trained detectives from other Tri-City law enforcement agencies.

Richland police Capt. Jeff Taylor told the Herald on Monday evening that the Special Investigations Unit does not plan to release any more information until at least Tuesday.

A news release Monday morning said officers were patrolling the area of North Fruitland Street and Columbia Park Trail at 11:45 p.m. when they contacted two men.

They were asking for their names when one of the men started to run away. He was detained immediately, the release said.

That’s when the man “allegedly produced what appeared to be a firearm,” according to the news release. “At least one officer fired their duty weapon in response to the perceived threat, striking the male.”

Police tried to save the man with medical aid, but he died at the scene.

“We have one suspect down. We’re going to detain a second (suspect),” a Kennewick officer told emergency dispatchers, according to a Broadcastify recording of communications. “We’ll need medics to expedite here.”

Paramedics who have yet to arrive at the scene can be heard asking if it was a shooting or a stabbing.

The answer: “Unknown at this time.”

A police officer later said, “This is shots fired,” as he asked for a colleague to respond.

No one else was hurt in the shooting, which was along the levee behind the Texaco gas station on West Columbia Drive.

Detectives were still at the scene Monday morning. The man’s body was taken away about 7 a.m.

Kennewick police said the “involved officers will be placed on administrative leave during the course of the investigation,” but did not say how many officers or give any further information.

Richland police Capt. Jeff Taylor told the Tri-City Herald on Monday evening that the Special Investigations Unit does not plan to release any more information until at least Tuesday.

This story was originally published February 10, 2020 at 10:47 AM.