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Officer who shot, killed gunman in Longview shootout identified

Officers were dispatched at 2:52 a.m. on October 17 to the 600 block of California Way on a report of an unwanted man, police said.

LONGVIEW, Wash. — A man died in an exchange of gunfire with Longview police on October 17.

Officers were dispatched at 2:52 a.m. to the 600 block of California Way on a report of an unwanted man, police said.

Investigators say it all started when a resident called about a man outside.

“He was outside yelling, talking to himself. They used the words ‘acting strange,'" said Captain Robert Huhta with the Longview Police Department.

When officers arrived they saw Weston Willow Well Cole, 29, a transient, had a gun before he took off into a mobile home. Kellye Townsend lives right next door.

“I guess he busted in the back door and said he wanted some cereal, and he had a gun,” she said.

Townsend said she knows because the two kids inside, ages 6 and 8, along with their babysitter, were able to get out safe. They came over to her place.

“The kids were totally scared,” Townsend said. “They didn't know what was going on and they wanted their mom and their mom was at work at Astoria at the fish hatchery.”

“The suspect began to fire multiple rounds out at the officers,” Huhta said.

Officers fired back. Police said Weston died on scene.

The officer who shot Weston was identified as Cowlitz County Sheriff's Deputy Geary Enbody, who has been with the sheriff's office for more than three years. Enbody has been placed on administrative leave pending the results of the investigation, which is standard protocol.

“We're mindful of the fact that there's a life lost today and that's tough on all of us,” said Cowlitz County Sheriff Mark Nelson.

Both law enforcement and Townsend said they're just glad no one else was hurt.

“It was pretty scary. I'm glad everything worked out OK and none of the kids got hurt,” Townsend said.

Huhta said the Clark County Major Crimes team is investigating. It is standard practice to have an outside agency conduct a shooting investigation involving law enforcement.

On Thursday, a coroner determined Cole died as a result of a gunshot wound. A toxicology exam has been scheduled but the results may about 5 to 6 months due to the backlog at the lab.

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