Hit-and-run suspect killed in shootout with police in Kelso
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KELSO, Wash. – A Kelso police officer and a Cowlitz County sheriff’s deputy shot and killed an armed man during a shootout outside a home Saturday morning.
Police said the suspect was 26-year-old Jesse McMillan.
Kelso Police Officer Ralph Hines, 40, and Cowlitz County Deputy Sheriff Danny O'Neill, 63, shot McMillan. Hines is a 9-year veteran with Kelso police and O'Neill has been Deputy Sheriff for 7 years after previously serving with the Washington State Patrol for 34 years.
Kelso police responded to a hit-and-run crash in the 200 block of Northwest 8th Avenue at around 10 a.m. McMillan hit two parked cars and drove away from the scene, police said.
Officers tracked him to his mother's house where they believed he was hiding, according to police. Authorities determined that McMillan had a felony robbery warrant and they tried to convince him to come out of the house.
Police said at 10:45 a.m., McMillan came out and began shooting at police officers and deputies. A police officer and deputy returned fire, shooting and killing McMillan, Kelso Police Captain Darr Kirk said.
The Cowlitz County Coroner said McMillan died from "multiple gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen."
Officer Hines and Deputy O'Neill are on paid administrative leave, which is standard procedure. Hines was shot in the leg, but was released from the hospital on Saturday.
"Our officers acted appropriately," said Kirk. "It's tragic, but they really responded appropriately."
A neighbor told KATU they heard at least a dozen shots. The Clark County Regional Major Crimes Task Force is investigating the shooting.
Police said McMillan's mother was home when he arrived at the house. Officers got her out of the house before the shooting started.
Many of McMillan's friends gathered at the scene Saturday afternoon.
"Everything he did he was passionate about," said McMillan's friend Ryan Connors.
Loren Reed said McMillan couldn't get the help he needed while he was in jail, or after he was released.
"He didn't deserve to be shot, he deserved to be on the mental health floor over there, getting back on his doses of medication," said Reed.
"We might all put on a tough exterior, but inside, his heart was huge," said Connors. "I guarantee it, he was scared."
KATU's Erica Nochlin contributed to this story.
In response to "Gee what can I say, if this guy had no access to a gun..." And this is why I am armed, well armed. You PDX libtards that think that harsh language and a cell phone is going to protect you from the very illegally well armed mentally ill, crazed druggies or determined violent criminals are nuts yourself. It's tragic that our country's leaders are focused on disarming law-abiding citizens, who virtually and statistically never commit gun related crimes BTW, while ignoring the very real problem of the unsupervised mentally ill, chronic violent drug abusers and outlaw minority gangs because corralling them would violate THEIR civil rights. Wake up people. If a bad person tries to get into your home 911 ain't an option folks. This guy was a nanosecond from doing something much much worse than committing suicide by cop. Get a firearm, learn how to use it safely, buy a gun safe and be prepared for whatever bursts into your front door, day or night. There are 350 million guns our there Mr. Gee, don't be on the wrong side of one when the time comes. Idiot. FYI, for no reason whatsoever DHS just released 2000 illegals back into society with plans to release another 3000 this week to commit wanton acts of violence, larceny, rape, drug abuse, distribution, DUII, and varying degrees of vagrancy all under the guise of just wanting a minimum wage job. It was all OK with you f'ers in PDX. You people make me sick.Â
You make your argument that "we need guns cause the CRAZIES have guns" a little too clear
Â
@Camas9mmÂ
And the font of wit and wisdom we know and smell as Camas continues to produce luminaries such as this purveyor of rancid Derp. Â Dude, take a pill, sit down, and shut up. Â You make sane gun owners look bad.
@Diogenes You still pretending to be a gun owner?
@Camas9mm Um, who sounds crazed?
Let's hurry legalize pot so we can all have more fun like this! Remember, it's a proven fact that pot usage leads to trying more potent drugs, and on it goes till we have desperate people willing to shoot it up with the police. Just lovin that marijuana.
@NoneHey Numbnuts, so exactly where in the story does it say this was a "drug related" hit and run or shooting? Way to interject the irrelevant, unsubstantiated or unproven into this comment area. Just because YOU believe that pot is a gateway drug, with little or no evidence by the way, does not mean in any way this poor boy was under the influence of its "evil" effects. Whatever.Â
Maybe he didn't deserve to be shot, but the minute you start shooting at them all that does out the window.
I wish the police would consider a public service message campaign designed to tell folks that even if you're in trouble with the law, everything can be peaceful unless you introduce a weapon. At the point...your life cannot become more important than the lives and safety of others and you will be shot.
@honorbound Vice President Biden has been doing public service messages all week regarding how to inappropriately and illegally use a shotgun. Let's get him to do it!!!
@Camas9mm What a great idea! Everyone has heard by now the famous intelligent advice... "Buy a shotgun! Fire two blasts!"Â I'm sure that people would take him seriously.
@honorbound It seems that the number of people who should know that increases with every death that happens in this manner. It really should be a no-brainer at this point.
@AmiMÂ @honorboundÂ
It's a sad story..Â
Who knows what motivated the guy.. Perhaps it was alcohol, bad drugs, could have even been the first signs of some mental illness showing. Â People suffering from a mental illness often show the first signs in their mid-late twenties so he was the right age.
When you point a gun at the police they are going to shoot! PERIOD! They can't take time to find out WHY you're shooting at them, they have to neutralize the threat to the public and themselves.
I'm certain those officers are NOT "high fiving" each other in celebration of killing that young man but he didn't leave them any choice.
Though it is true the deceased died from his own actions, whether he planned it this way or not, a family has lost a loved one, and the officers responding were forced to take a life in defending their own and protecting the citizens from harm. They will all deal with this for the rest of their lives.Â
Please consider this when posting and cut the abusive comments. Thoughts and prayers to families on both sides and the officers involved.
I don't know anyone involved in this event, I just feel that family members will read media reports and there is no need for the trash talk.
@Roy Johnson Thank you Roy...wise and insightful words.
why did he have to bring mama into it? don't criminals hide in mexico anymore?
Ever notice how the person wearing the graduation gown is never the one getting into a shoot out...........
this happened for a reason. hes in a better place.   thoughts and prayers. my heart goes out.  Â
@Pers Retiree Yeah, he couldn't get a job because the state(s) are broke paying outrageous and unwarranted PERS-like benefits, mostly twice because state employees love to marry each other and get double the money and retire at 55 while laughing all the way to the bank, and there was nothing left over to help the mentally ill. Oh well.....
Thanks to Portland Police for cleaning the dirty streets of Portland !
@Emilio Palici Ummm, this happened in Kelso WA. Read the article.Â
Why do all the mentally deranged have guns? The normal gun owners lock up their guns. Crazy people run around with their guns, some die and that is probably a good thing.Â
@twoeyes not that I'm saying what you say is wrong but there are LOTS of people who are normal and have a gun next to them and all times.  The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun....
Another one bites the dust...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWsJcg-g1pg
@boned
I still love the irony when Freddie sing's "Who wants to live forever".
@WebFootSTi @boned He should of stayed with fat bottom girls
@Bert @WebFootSTi @bonedÂ
Good enough for Jazz.
Really great guy who had a felony warrant and hit and run into two cars. What was he on?
@Techchefpdx He just finished watching Expendables 2.Â
Why is it that law enforcement shoots and kills some one  and everyone says what a great person they were.  I guess while he was shooting at the police in the back of his mind he must of been thinking about the families of the police trying to protect the rest of us from scum like himself.  Glad to hear the cop will be fine.  Also glad one more scum is off the streets.
@Common Sence I'm sure that lots of people in prison are generally nice people if you got to know them.  Nice people afflicted with mental health and drug problems.
@Common Sence I wish I had an answer, but it was 100% the same story all the time I was sheriff. I am kind of glad that when I watch some TV shows the mother, father, daughter or some other family member tells the truth. Perhaps the family of a skel really has no idea since they hold their kids on a pedestal and are blind, by choice...
Who cares how many shots were fired? The bad guy died, period! What else do you want? Shall we erect a cross outside the house, or just simply promote him to sainthood?
@jpk Erect a Cross? Pssh, no we will dedicate a skyscraper to him.
Not in this economy! LOL. Since he died, there will be no constant, continual, trial and appeals, etc. It be over! Done and gone! Over and out! On to the next perpetrator who wants to shoot it out with the good guys! The same good guys that do as much as they can to protect those who will then shout ill-conceibed invectives against them for what they did! It just goes on and on and on! Â
@jpk Wait a second - some pond scum attorney will sue and you can bet your ass the law enforcement will pay with your tax dollars...
sounds like he deceided to be a dumbass too......
"(He was) a guy who would smile, crack a joke, to bring up the mood. Right now he'd be the guy tickling Kayla in the background just to get her to smile,"
He's also the guy with a felony warrant who (after attempting to hide from police at mommies house) decided to try to have a shootout with police.Â
I'm all for not speaking ill of the dead, but sometimes it just amazes me that everyone is a 'good guy who loved people' after they tried to kill someone. While I didn't know Mr McMillan, there's evidence to suggest that perhaps those close to him are sugar coating his legacy a bit.Â
@MarkKpic "those close to him are sugar coating his legacy a bit." They always do and they always will. We would probably do the same if it was a close friend or family member.
@TreeWizard @MarkKpic >'We would probably do the same if it was a close friend or family member.'
Actually, I wouldn't. I'm a firm believer in the old 'if you haven't something nice to say, say nothing' in that respect. I'd probably say something along the lines of "he had made some pretty bad decisions that resulted in his death. I feel terribly for his family, and those he hurt."
I had a close friend commit suicide after years of drug abuse. I was asked to speak at his funeral, and I did (breifly). While I did offer praise of the man who I knew once, I also addressed the man he became because of his addicitons.Â
By not addressing the causes of such outcomes, you are doing a disservice to kids and young adults who see their behaviors. Instead of being 'the bad police' who 'killed the nice man'. It's (in my mind) better to speak the truth.Â
Once again, the truth is the truth. It's often met with venomous opposition, and it's not always comfortable, but in the end... it's still the truth.Â
@TreeWizard @MarkKpic
Not necessarily. Back in the late 1980's I worked with a guy who's cousin was on trial for a very heinous murder of an elderly woman. The some of the details were in the news, but I heard all the disgusting bits. He said they guy deserved the death penalty and was stoically happy when the piece of crap black sheep of the family was convicted.Gee, what can I say. If this loser had not had access to a gun, he might be alive now.
@Mechanic ---- running at a the cops with a knife often times ends up with the same results.
@Mechanic There are more than 270 million guns owned by civilians in the US.  So will guns go away no.
http://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/region/united-states
@RandyHÂ @Mechanic --- not overnight of course.
Sounds like he may have been suicidal.Â
@brautigan I doubt it.  If he had been suicidal in most instances he would have come out and pointed the gun at officers without firing at them.  He intended on hurting LE. That is an evil man, not a suicidal one.
This is Captain Kirk, beam Mr. McMillan to planet Dirt Nap.
I'm thinking Oregon must be the hit and run capital of the world.Â
You have to wonder what made him go bad, was it drugs?Â
I wish the wounded officer a speedy recovery.
@The Resistance This happened in Washington.
@rwf @The Resistance --- I stand corrected, let's just say the Northwest then.Â
@The Resistance He was just mad that he lost at hide and seek.