Burglary suspect dies after he is shot by Centralia police officer
An 18-year-old burglary suspect died after he was shot by a Centralia police officer early Tuesday.
About 5 a.m., police were dispatched to a burglary in progress at a home on the 1400 block of Logan Street in Centralia. Police ordered the suspect, who reportedly had a knife, to stop coming toward officers. He did not, and an officer, later identified as Fredrick Mercer, shot him, according to a Centralia Police Department news release.
The teen, Joshua Flores of Centralia, died at a local hospital. The Lewis County Coroner’s Office said he died of a gunshot wound to the chest.
Mercer has been placed on paid administrative leave while the shooting is investigated by a regional investigation team, according to Centralia police.
Mercer has been with the department since 2012.
This story was originally published June 18, 2019 at 9:24 AM.
