Investigators release findings after man shot, killed by Pierce County deputy in Parkland

PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. — Investigators have released their findings after a 39-year-old man was shot and killed by a Pierce County sheriff’s deputy in Parkland last month.

That man, identified by the Pierce County medical examiner as Jerome Holman, died from gunshot wounds to his torso. His manner of death was homicide.

According to a report from the Pierce County Force Investigation Team, at 5:47 p.m. on Jan. 27, three deputies were called to a report of a man slumped over in a parked minivan at O’Reilly Auto Parts in the 14900 block of Pacific Avenue South.

Deputies arrived, contacted the man and suspected the van he was in might be stolen, which they based on the fact that the license plates did not match the vehicle identification number, officials said. However, investigators later learned the license plates on the van had been switched and belonged to a similar type of vehicle, which had not been reported stolen.

Holman opened the driver’s door and then attempted to close it while starting the van, which caused deputies to believe he was going to flee.

A deputy attempted to stop Holman from driving away, but Holman struck the deputy with the open door while in reverse, the report stated. The deputy was dragged and thrown about 30 feet.

Investigators said Holman then made a U-turn and collided with a deputy’s patrol car. Because Holman positioned the van in a way that, if he had accelerated, the deputies would have risked being struck

Officials said a deputy fired six shots and struck Holman five times.

Holman was taken to the hospital, where he later died.

Officials have yet to release the deputy’s identity.

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