An off-duty police officer was shot by a responding deputy while defending his home from an armed robbery suspect, according to KATU.
Reporters say the incident started Saturday night (January 29) when the suspect robbed a gas station in Vancouver, Washington, and fled in a stolen vehicle. While the suspect was driving toward Battle Ground, Washington, Vancouver Police reportedly used spike strips on the vehicle, prompting the alleged robber to run toward a house.
Authorities say they got a 911 call from a woman inside the home, reporting about a man pounding on their front door. She also described her husband, 52-year-old Donald Sahota, trying to detain the suspect while armed with a gun.
Sahota, who is a Vancouver police officer, was repeatedly stabbed during his fight with the suspect. When the alleged robber took off toward the occupied home, Sahota got ahold of his firearm again and ran after the suspect.
That's when a Clark County Sheriff's deputy pulled up to the scene and fired multiple shots at Sahota, according to officials.
Vancouver Police Officer Daniel Sahota was fatally shot while defending his home from an armed robbery suspect on January 29, 2021, according to local authorities.
“The off-duty officer/homeowner collapsed on his front porch before responding officers were able to determine he was the homeowner and not the alleged robbery suspect,” authorities said. Sahota was rushed to the hospital and later died there, KATU reports. As for the suspect, he later surrendered to the police.
Since the incident involved both Vancouver Police and the Clark County Sheriff's Office, the Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team is investigating.
Reporters say Sahota leaves behind his wife and two children. One of his kids, Kylie, called her dad a hero.