Sheriff urges calm, as shooting of young Black father in Clark County sparks protests

It was just around 5:30 p.m. Thursday, when a contact call came over the Clark County Sheriff radio. Just before 6 p.m. was a shots fired call. It was five hours later when the sheriff’s office made any type of statement, well after word had spread like wildfire on social media that the person shot in Vancouver, Washington, had been killed, and was a Black man.

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A short time later, family members confirmed the person shot was Kevin Peterson Jr., a 21-year-old father of a one-year-old daughter.

Social media exploded with word of the shooting along with Peterson’s identity, and dozens of protesters and family members converged on the scene of the shooting demanding answers. They were met with a wall of law enforcement, as multiple agencies took control of the independent investigation as required under state law after the approval of I-940.

Throughout the night protesters chanted “What’s his name?” and “Black Lives Matter,” along with several other chants about police. A line of police SUVS formed between protesters and the scene, as word spread on social media about witnesses claiming Peterson had been shot just seconds after cops arrived, and that he had been running away.

Another witness claimed he had his hands in his pockets and warned not to believe whatever narrative law enforcement eventually delivered, as the silence about what had happened lingered well into the early morning hours Friday.

Protests and vigils were already planned in solidarity with Peterson’s family early Friday morning, as a handful of family members at the scene spread word on social channels that Kevin’s body remained on the ground nearly 12 hours after he had been shot, only agitating those planning to rally.

Late Friday afternoon, Clark County Sheriff Chuck Atkins called a press conference for 3 p.m., nearly 24 hours after the shooting.

”It’s a tough day to have to be standing here in front of you. I have a statement and a commitment that I want to make to the community and to the family of the young man who lost his life last night,” Atkins said to a room of reporters.

He explained he did not have all of the information, and had not spoken to the deputies involved due to the state law requiring an independent agency handle the investigation that limited his involvement.

The sheriff offered the first details of what had happened, according to what investigators were telling him.

“I can tell you just before 6 p.m. last night, detectives from the Clark-Vancouver Drug Task Force were conducting a narcotics investigation in the 6800 block of Northeast Highway 99. A foot pursuit ensued where deputies from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office were chasing a man with a firearm. The information I have is that upon entering the parking lot of the bank, the man reportedly fired his weapon at the deputies, the deputies returned fire and the subject was tragically killed. It is my understanding the man’s firearm was observed at the scene,” Atkins explained.

“It’s important to relate that the loss of the young man’s life likely means that there is a grieving father, mother, and family members grieving at this time — it is right and correct that the community would grieve along with his family. While I have not spoken with the deputies involved in this matter. I am confident that they are upset at the unfortunate outcome of this encounter. I can say that our agency is grieving as it as is the Peterson family and our community,” the sheriff said, having acknowledged earlier that Peterson’s family had identified him and his name was being reported by the media, but not offering an official identification himself.

Atkins noted that I-940 required a designated law enforcement contact for families of those killed by police.

“It is my commitment to participate as much as I can, in ensuring that there is a complete, thorough independent determination of what happened, how it happened and what can be learned from this incident. I believe that it is important that the family be kept updated as much as absolutely possible,” he said.

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The sheriff urged the community and the family to remain calm and patient, and asked that all in the community let the investigation play out.

“As the community grieves I ask that it be a respectful and dignified observance of the loss of life in this matter. There is always the potential for misinformation, doubt, and confusion and there may be those who wish to sow seeds of doubt,” Atkins warned.

“I insist that we all learn in time what was lawful and or unlawful, what was proper and or improper, and what we as an agency of community can learn from this matter. I am committed to the accountability and transparency expected by this community and by the state law and stand prepared to do my part as sheriff in seeing that that is done,” he added, noting the investigation had been turned over to the Southwest Washington Independent Investigation team Thursday night, and is being led by the Camas Police.

Multiple protests and vigils in solidarity with Peterson’s family were planned Friday night on both coasts, including New York, Seattle, Vancouver, Eugene, and Portland, where months of demonstrations have been especially volatile.

Sheriff Atkins said he had been working with the investigative team throughout the day and intended to make space for those who wanted to peacefully gather and remember Peterson and support his family.

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