One person dead after officer-involved shooting in Walla Walla

WALLA WALLA – Police have identified the man who was killed in an officer-involved shooting Sunday in Walla Walla as 40-year-old Christopher Adam Borland.

Walla Walla officers Eric Eastman, Nathanael Small and Kevin Toon were placed on administrative leave after the shooting

The officers were responding to a report of a suicidal person armed with a firearm when they found Borland, the Walla Walla Police Department said.

Borland was inside a vehicle when officers arrived, according to the department.

After a short police pursuit, Borland stopped and exited the vehicle while armed with a gun, the department said.

The officers used verbal commands and nonlethal weapons akin to beanbag rounds in attempt to stop Borland, Walla Walla Police Sgt. Kevin Braman said.

Borland refused to follow officer commands, and the officers discharged their firearms in response to what they saw as a threat posed by Borland, he said.

Braman did not say what Borland did that seemed threatening.

The Tri-Cities Metro Special Investigations Unit is investigating the shooting.

The officers were not wearing body cameras, and their vehicles did not record footage of the incident, Braman said during a Monday news conference.

He described Eastman, Small and Toon as very capable officers who have five years or less of experience with policing.

The last officer-involved shooting in Walla Walla was in 1975, Braman said.