YAKIMA — Police say the man killed by a Yakima officer in a confrontation early Saturday was holding a replica handgun that fired Airsoft pellets.
Police say Officer Casey Gilette was on routine patrol about 3 a.m. when he approached a car parked outside a car wash and opened the door. Capt. Rod Light says Gilette saw the driver held what appeared to be a handgun and fired four shots.
The Yakima County coroner’s office says Rocendo Arias, 23, of Selah, was killed by a shot in the head.
Police Chief Dominic Rizzi told the Yakima Herald-Republic that he believes Gilette acted appropriately.
It was the second fatal police shooting in 24 hours. On Friday a Yakima SWAT team killed a man who had fired from a motor home in Selah.
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