Suspect in Walla Walla trooper shooting held on attempted murder charges
Sep 24, 2022, 7:55 AM | Updated: 7:59 am
A graphic of active cop lights and "Do Not Cross" police tape. (MyNorthwest file photo)
(MyNorthwest file photo)
Attempted murder and weapons charges have been filed against 37-year-old Brandon O’Neel of Walla Walla, in connection with Thursday night’s shooting of a Washington state Patrol trooper.
Court documents say O’Neel is charged with first degree attempted murder with a firearm, first degree assault with a firearm, and attempting to elude with a firearm. Bail was set at $1 million.
The Walla Walla Union-Bulletin reports O’Neel had been evicted earlier in the day, and court documents say he left a note threatening to “execute any cop or manager you send.”
Trooper Dean Atkinson remains in the Intensive Care Unit at Seattle’s Harborview Medical Center, after he was shot in the face. According to The News Tribune, the shooting happened after a car rammed the trooper and his cruiser around 5:20 p.m. Thursday evening.
Fellow Trooper Sarah Clasen says Atkinson was able to drive himself to Providence St. Mary Medical Center, about a mile from the incident. Shortly after arriving at the hospital, he was airlifted to Harborview.
The alleged suspect was arrested about a half-hour later trying to escape across the Oregon border.
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