The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office expects the investigation into a federal task force-involved shooting of Michael Reinoehl to wrap up by the end of the month, according to a press release sent last week.
Investigators have been waiting for months as pieces of evidence were sent to the Washington State Patrol crime lab for testing. The results on the tests were just recently returned to the sheriff’s office.
On Sept. 3, a task force of area law enforcement officers, led by the U.S. Marshal Service, gunned down Reinoehl in the unincorporated Tanglewilde neighborhood. Reinoehl was wanted in connection to a shooting death in Portland, when pro-Trump protestors clashed with other protest groups.
Reinoehl’s death drew national attention, including an investigation by The New York Times, which revealed witnesses on-scene saw police opening fire almost immediately after arriving on scene. This prompted questions about whether Reinoehl had adequate time to respond to officers’ demands to surrender. Responding officers say Reinoehl pointed a handgun, prompting the volley of bullets.
Items sent to the WSP lab for testing include a gun Reinoehl had on him at the time of the shooting and a spent bullet casing found in his car.
No Thurston County law enforcement agencies were involved in the shooting. The results of the investigation will be sent to prosecutors to determine if police were justified in the shooting.
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