By Becca Robbins
The Columbian, Vancouver, Wash.
VANCOUVER, Wash. — Video released Wednesday by the Vancouver Police Department shows officers inside an armored vehicle duck when gunshots hit the windshield, eventually shattering it, during a standoff last month that left a Vancouver man dead.
Investigators also identified Vancouver police Officer Cameron McAnally, 28, as the officer who fatally shot Michael D. Williams, 56.
McAnally has been with the police department for five years and works on the regional SWAT team. He responded to the incident as a part of SWAT’s sniper team, according to the Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team, which is investigating the shooting.
According to the video compilation of the incident, a caller reported to 911 that a neighbor, identified as Williams, was armed with a handgun and threatening to harm another neighbor. The caller reported Williams had fired at least one round into the air.
Clark County sheriff’s deputies responded about 11 p.m. Sept. 26 to the 5400 block of Northeast 71st Street in the Walnut Grove area. Vancouver police members of the SWAT team later responded at 1:24 a.m. to assist the sheriff’s office.
While deputies were arriving, they heard gunshots. A police drone was able to get a view of Williams moving around his property and arming himself with a rifle. Williams can also be seen outside of his front door putting on ear protection. As Williams moves back inside the house, the drone footage shows a rifle on a shooting tripod aimed out the front door.
Wednesday’s update states Williams was shooting at police throughout the incident with a high-powered rifle, and multiple rounds struck a SWAT armored vehicle. The Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team said six officers were inside the rig. One round struck the windshield of the vehicle, nearly penetrating the windshield to where a Vancouver police crisis negotiator sat inside.
Video from the body camera worn by an officer in the armored vehicle’s front passenger seat captured the moments the round struck the windshield. The officer is heard saying over the vehicle’s loud speaker, “You are under arrest. You need to come to the front door with nothing in your hands.” A second later, the officer ducks as the round strikes the windshield. The officer is then heard saying “shots fired” and “he’s shooting at us.”
Another officer inside the armored vehicle is heard telling the others, “You guys are all right. You’re all right.”
Nearly an hour later, the video shows officers again calling for Williams to come out the front door. Immediately after, an officer says over the loud speaker, “Show us you don’t want to hurt anyone out here. Show us that you can be safe,” before another gunshot is heard. An officer then says, “OK, the front window’s going.”
As the armored vehicle then backs out of the driveway, more gunshots are heard. Officers can be heard exhaling deep breaths and assuring each other that they are OK.
Wednesday’s video also included footage from McAnally’s body camera. The video from his camera is dark, and the update states he was positioned in a low-lit area.
McAnally is heard on the video saying he can see Williams wearing a helmet and a gas mask. A single gunshot follows, and then McAnally says, “He went down.”
In a statement provided to the investigative team, McAnally said he feared Williams posed an immediate threat to other officers. He fired one shot, which struck Williams in the neck, the update states.
Williams was pronounced dead at the scene.
Video from a drone as it approached the rear sliding door showed Williams dead inside. A rifle is also seen near him. Drone footage of an upstairs bedroom also shows multiple boxes of ammunition and several rifles and handguns. A rifle with a scope was also on a shooting tripod and aimed out of the upstairs, front-facing window, the video shows.
No one else was injured in the incident, the update states.
Investigators said neighbors reported during interviews ongoing problems with Williams. They said Williams had made derogatory comments to neighbors about their ethnicities and had slashed tires on vehicles.
They also reported Williams appeared to be intoxicated the night of the standoff. A deputy who spoke to Williams on the phone said his speech seemed slurred, investigators said.
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