The two police officers in Kelso who shot a 19-year-old man on August 1 were publicly identified Tuesday by the Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team, which is investigating the shooting.
Sgt. Aaron Marthhaller and Officer Jeff Brown each fired “three rounds from their duty pistols,” investigators said. The 19-year-old, Daniel Madden, was hit twice in an arm, once in the chest and once in the head. He remains hospitalized, officials said.
“Video evidence confirmed Madden was pointing a pistol at officers when he was shot,” said the Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team.
On the morning of August 1, officers responded to reports that a white SUV had crashed into several cars on 12th Avenue in Kelso, The Oregonian/OregonLive earlier reported. Callers to 911 also reported seeing the SUV hit a sign on South 8th Avenue, as well as a car and fence on Vine Street.
When officers arrived on the scene, witnesses identified the driver of the SUV as Madden and told officers he had a gun, investigators said. Officers spotted the SUV in front of Madden’s home in the 900 block of South 12th Avenue, and Madden stepped out of the house while officers stood near the parked SUV.
Madden was holding a pistol behind his back, according to investigators. An officer attempted to tase Madden as he approached the officers with the gun in view, but the officer was unable to stop Madden’s advance.
Madden was shot from about three feet away as he pointed the gun “directly at an officer’s head,” police said.
Marthaller has been a Kelso police officer for 11 years, the Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team said. Brown has been with the Kelso Police Department for 26 years.
The Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team said the investigation into the shooting continues.
