Investigators confirm firearm found at scene of officer-involved shooting

Detectives with the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) confirmed that a firearm was located at the scene where a 45-year old man died in a confrontation with Kennewick Police.

According to a press release, SIU located a handgun while processing the scene on Fruitland Street at Columbia Park Trail.

Investigators say Gordon L. Whitaker was shot an unknown number of times after running from a Kennewick Police Officer shortly before midnight Sunday.

An officer had stopped Whitaker and another man near Columbia Park, and Whitaker ran while he was detained.

Police say at one point, Whitaker pulled out a firearm, and at least one officer fired their service weapon.

The Kennewick Police Department identified the three officers involved as Officer Becca Henry, Officer Zach Moore, and Officer Dylan Markley.

Officer Henry is a 10-year veteran of the police department, and is a Patrol Training Officer (PTO), currently assigned to the patrol division.

Officer Moore joined the KPD three years ago after four years of service for the Washington State Department of Corrections as a sergeant and firearms instructor.  Officer Moore is currently assigned to patrol where he is a PTO and department use of force training instructor.

Officer Markley was hired in July 2019 and recently graduated from the Washington State Basic Law Enforcement Academy.  Officer Markley came to the Kennewick Police Department from the Hanford Patrol, after serving in the United States Army as a medic in the 82nd Airborne Division.  Officer Markley is currently in the PTO phase of his training.

Newsradio 610 KONA's news partners at KEPR Action News obtained Washington State Patrol records that show Whitaker had an active warrant for failing to pay fines in connection with a previous robbery conviction.

Investigators with SIU say the investigation is still in the early stages and will release additional details as the investigation warrants.