On Wednesday, October 9, 2019 at approximately 5:26 A.M. the St. Helens Police Department responded to a shooting incident at the St. Helens Chevron located at 115 N. Columbia River Highway (Hwy 30). St. Helens Officers responded and located the vehicle suspected of being involved in the shooting incident. When officers attempted to contact the operator of the vehicle it fled on Hwy 30 towards Deer Island and officers pursued. The suspect vehicle became disabled on Hwy 30 near milepost 35 and the suspect fled on foot. An officer from the St. Helens PD used force resulting in the suspects death. As per policy this officer has been placed on administrative leave. Detectives are investigating the report of shots being fired from the suspect vehicle prior to and during this pursuit. This was a very dynamic situation with several incident scenes, numerous witnesses, and a large volume evidence. In an effort to maintain the integrity of the investigation information is being withheld until OSP can ensure that witnesses have been interviewed, next of kin notification made and outstanding victims identified and questioned. OSP continues to ask any one that may have witnessed any part of this incident to contact the Oregon State Police at *OSP or 503-375-3555. Update: The deceased is being identified as Michael Thomas Veatch (32) of Washington.
