Michael D Williams Obituary, Death; – Law enforcement authorities are providing additional information regarding a SWAT standoff that occurred in Vancouver last month, which culminated in an officer shooting and fatally wounding a suspect.
The suspect has been identified as 28-year-old Vancouver Police Officer Cameron McAnally, a member of the Southwest Washington Regional SWAT Team, who was part of the sniper unit involved in the incident. According to the investigation into the shooting that took place on September 27, Officer McAnally discharged his weapon when the suspect was positioned at the rear entrance of his residence, armed with a rifle and allegedly aiming at other law enforcement personnel, as stated by the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office in a press release.
Officer McAnally struck the suspect, 56-year-old Michael D. Williams, in the neck, resulting in his death. The sheriff’s office reported that Officer McAnally expressed concerns that Williams represented an imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm to the officers present at that moment.
Additionally, the Vancouver Police Department has made available video evidence from the incident, which includes body camera footage from the officers and drone footage capturing the interior of Williams’ home following the shooting.
The lethal shot was fired after Williams reportedly discharged multiple rounds towards other officers and nearby residences from an upstairs window and the front door of his home.
Officials noted that efforts to de-escalate the situation were unsuccessful. In a related development, MultCo has included NW Natural in a $51 million climate lawsuit. At one point during the standoff, investigators from the Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team reported that Williams successfully struck an armored vehicle, damaging its anti-ballistic windshield and jeopardizing the safety of the six law enforcement officers inside.
Investigators believe that the firearm used by Williams to fire at the armored vehicle was an HM Defense model HM50B .50 caliber rifle, among several weapons recovered from his residence. The footage released by the Vancouver police includes body camera recordings from officers inside the armored vehicle at the time the windshield was compromised, as well as drone footage from within the premises.
