Date: April 24, 2023
Suspect: Jack Watson, 20
Members: Officer Brian Wheeler, Officer Nicholas Wambold; Clackamas County Deputy David Sloboda
The following was released by the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office . The Clackamas Interagency Major Crimes Team investigated this officer-involved shooting:
On April 23, 2023, officers and detectives from the Portland Police Bureau responded to a shooting at a business in Southeast Portland in the 5200 block of Foster Rd. Officers arrived finding a victim who had been shot and killed at the business.
As the investigation proceeded, investigators developed a physical description of the suspect and his vehicle. That information was provided to patrol officers throughout Portland to locate and apprehend the suspect.
On April 24, 2023, at around 10:40 p.m., officers from the Portland Police Bureau spotted a vehicle matching the description of the vehicle seen fleeing the scene of the prior day’s murder on SE Foster.
Officers attempted to stop the car in the area of SE 82nd Ave and SE Holgate. The suspect fled South on SE 82nd Ave and entered into Clackamas County minutes later. Officers and deputies used “spike strips” to assist in disabling the suspect’s vehicle, but the suspect continued Southbound approaching a road construction site at SE 82nd Ave and SE Monterey. A PIT maneuver was attempted, and the vehicle was stopped as the suspect attempted a U-turn to go back north on SE 82nd.
The suspect then drew a handgun and fired at police from his car. Two Portland Police Officers returned fire as did a Clackamas County Sheriff’s Deputy. The suspect was struck by gunfire and died at the scene despite lifesaving efforts by police. Due to the speed at which the event unfolded the opportunity for de-escalation and less than lethal options did not present itself.
The suspect in the homicide from Portland and who died at the Clackamas shooting scene is identified as: Jack Watson – 20 years old of Portland, Oregon.
On May 11, 2023, the Portland Police Bureau released the names of the officers: Officer Brian Wheeler, a 5-year veteran of the Portland Police Bureau and Officer Nicholas Wambold, a 4-year veteran of the Portland Police Bureau. Both are assigned to East Precinct.
Previously released information related to this incident is available here: Clackamas County District Attorney Releases Update on Officer Involved Fatal Shooting from April 24, 2023.
On June 28, 2023, a Clackamas County District Attorney announced upon the conclusion of the presentation of evidence to a grand jury, the jury returned a no true bill, meaning the officers' use of deadly force was not criminal under Oregon law.
As part of the use of force review process, the Bureau conducts an internal review of the entire incident and the case will go before the Police Review Board (PRB), which is composed of community members, Bureau members and representatives from the Independent Police Review Division.
The Portland Police Bureau's directive outlining the procedures followed after an officer-involved shooting may be found in Directive 1010.10