VANCOUVER – A man who died after being shot by police in Vancouver early Tuesday morning was identified Wednesday as 22-year-old Nikkolas W. Lookabill, an Oregon Army National Guard soldier who had just served 12 months in Iraq, a National Guard spokesman confirmed.
Spc. Lookabill deployed in May 2009 as a member of the 41st Infantry Brigade after joining the guard in 2008, Guard spokesman Capt. Stephen Bomar said. Lookabill returned to Oregon after serving overseas for one year. Guard officials confirmed Lookabill's military status Wednesday after the man was identified by Vancouver police.
Police said the Lookabill was armed with a handgun and was threatening officers around 3:30 a.m. near the intersection of 4th Plain Blvd. and Fruit Valley Road, just west of downtown Vancouver.
A sergeant and two officers fired the shots.
The officers' names were released Wednesday. They are Sgt. John Schultz, 41, an 8-year veteran with the Vancouver Police Department, Frank Gomez, 32, a Vancouver officer for the past 4 years, and Gerardo Gutierrez, 38, with Vancouver the past 2 years. All three officers were put on paid administrative leave, which is standard protocol following a shooting incident.
Lookabill's friends told KGW they were dumbfounded that a military man died after a standoff with police.
"I was numb because I had a friend who died just a few months ago, " said Steve Sprague, a childhood friend.
"He (Lookabill) was fun-loving, he was a great guy, always a joker."
Lookabill entered the national guard in 2008 and a year later, was deployed to Iraq. After he returned home, friends say he was a different person. They described him as angry with a short fuse.
Still, neighbors will miss his face.
"He's a really down to earth guy, it's so sad, " said neighbor Jason Gibbs.
Friends also told KGW that Lookabill was nervous that he would be shipped overseas again, but the guard told us there were no plans for him to be deployed.
So why would he stand in the street with a gun and take on police?
It's baffling to his friends.
"Knowing that he was in the military, he would have known to drop the weapon and gotten some help, " said Sprague.
As flowers were placed on Lookabill's truck. Even though his life ended tragically, neighbor Jason Gibbs said he respected his service to our country.
"It's a sad thing. I pray for his family and thank you for fighting for our country."
