Investigation underway after officer-involved shooting in Centralia

CENTRALIA, Wash. — An investigation is underway after a Centralia police officer shot a man Thursday night.

It happened in a parking lot in the 600 block of South Tower Avenue shortly before 7 p.m. after officers were called to a report of a man trespassing at a store.

Officers arrived and found the man a half-block away from the store. When they approached the man, he began threatening to attack them with what appeared to be a large walking staff, Centralia police said.

“The officers tried to de-escalate the situation to include using a less-lethal force, but it had a no effect,” a news release said.

When the man tried to attack one of the officers with the staff, another officer shot the man twice, police said. Officers gave the man first aid until an ambulance arrived and took him to Centralia Providence Hospital, where he had surgery.

His current condition is not known.

The Region Three Critical Incident Investigation Team, made of up investigators from Grays Harbor, Mason and Thursday counties, and the Washington State Patrol, is investigating.

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