The Thurston County Coroner’s Office has identified the suspect killed in an officer-involved shooting on Tuesday as Todd Bass, 44, of Lacey.
A medical exam will be performed on Friday, May 1, according to Thurston County Coroner Gary Warnock.
A Thurston County Sheriff’s Office deputy shot and killed Bass following a police pursuit in the Olympia area on Tuesday, April 28.
The incident began at approximately 2:37 p.m., when a TCSO deputy attempted to stop a vehicle for traveling about 90mph in a 35mph zone on Yelm Highway Southeast.
During the incident, both the deputy and the suspect crashed, according to TCSO.
“The suspect fled on foot, and deputies heard shots being fired in a back yard,” TCSO stated in a news release Tuesday evening. “Deputies pursued the suspect on foot when shots were fired and the suspect was struck by gunfire.”
Medical aid was rendered to the suspect, but the suspect did not survive, according to TCSO. No deputies were injured.
The Washington State Office of Independent Investigations (OII) is investigating the incident.
Once the Oll investigation is complete, the case will be forwarded to the Thurston County Prosecutor's Office for review.
Consistent with TCSO policy, all deputies involved in the incident have been placed on administrative leave, according to TCSO.
OII has not yet released the name of the deputy who killed Bass.
Anyone who may have information regarding this incident is asked to call the OII Tip Line at 564-263-0728. Callers are reminded that all information provided to OII is subject to public disclosure, as required by the state Public Records Act.
When OII completes its investigation, a final case report detailing findings and outlining the investigation will be posted at oii.wa.gov and made available to the public.
