A Washington state man has been convicted of murder on Friday for his involvement in the tragic death of a police officer in 2022. The officer was mistakenly shot by a sheriff’s deputy.
Julio Segura of Yakima was convicted by a Clark County jury on multiple charges including first-degree murder, second-degree murder, robbery, possession of a stolen vehicle, and eluding police. These charges are all in relation to the tragic death of Vancouver police officer Donald Sahota.
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He was cleared of other allegations, including attempted murder.
On January 29, 2022, Sahota was tragically shot at his home in the city of Battle Ground while he was off duty.
Segura had robbed a gas station near Vancouver earlier that day, according to authorities. Deputies pursued his car towards Battle Ground.
According to prosecutors, Segura fled the scene after the car crashed. Deputies operating a drone observed him walking along a street and later heading towards the Sahota residence located at the end of a private road.
In the drone video, it is evident that someone at the residence opened the door and engaged in a conversation with Segura for a few minutes before closing the door again, according to court records. Sahota’s wife promptly dialed 911 to inform them that a man had claimed to have been involved in a car accident and required assistance.
According to the documents, Deputy Jonathan Feller witnessed Sahota grabbing a gun and sprinting towards the house. Acting swiftly, Feller discharged his weapon approximately four seconds after his arrival, unintentionally striking Sahota.
Sahota’s cause of death, according to coroners, was gunshot wounds to the torso.
The prosecutors contended that Segura was responsible for Sahota’s death due to his involvement in other criminal activities. They asserted that his actions posed a significant risk of harm to anyone involved.
Segura’s defense did not contest the fact that he took a car from a dealership in Yakima and robbed the gas station using a replica handgun. They argued that Sahota cornered Segura, and Feller irresponsibly fired shots at the situation that was unfolding.
Defense attorney Michele Michalek expressed her views on a challenging case, emphasizing the need for Clark County to reassess its approach to handling officer-involved shootings.
Ed Dunkerly, another defense lawyer, expressed his belief that law enforcement should undergo further training. When asked if Segura will file an appeal, he confidently stated that the defense possesses a compelling argument.
Oregon Public Broadcasting reached out to Prosecutor Tony Golik for comment but received no response. In a statement last year, Golik had mentioned that Feller would not be charged with any criminal offenses as he had acted in “good faith” during a chaotic incident while responding to an armed robbery suspect.
After reviewing the shooting incident, a panel of prosecutors was unable to reach a consensus on whether Feller’s use of force was reasonable. As a result, the decision was made to take action accordingly.
According to Vancouver Police Chief Jeff Mori, the family and friends of Sahota have endured a lengthy period of anticipation.
Mori expressed gratitude for the verdict, but acknowledged that the pain and tragedy of Don’s death still linger.
