Man with gun killed by police in Sunnyside
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SUNNYSIDE, Wash. -- A man who was shot by police Wednesday afternoon in Sunnyside died of his wound at a hospital.
Sunnyside Police Sgt. Joey Glossen says the man had been firing a gun near a convenience store and continued as an officer arrived and took a defensive position.
Glossen says when the man turned the gun toward the officer, the officer fired.
Yakima County Coroner Jack Hawkins identified the man as 27-year-old Ramon Ayala.
"Guy was out in front of the store shooting rounds up in the air and shot the windows on the store," Jaramaya Long said. "I guess there was bullet holes in them."
Jaramaya lives across the street from the store. He said he heard the shots and ran outside. That's when he says he saw a motionless body on the ground.
"From what I heard, got shot and killed," Jaramaya said.
Neighbors told KIMA they're not surprised it happened here. They say the owner of the store recently ran into a lot of problems, especially with people trying to steal alcohol from him.
"When he's working in the back of the store. I go in there and I catch them and I tell them don't be taking the drinks," Bobby Long said.
Bobby said he's also noticed an increase in what he calls gang-related graffiti near the mini-mart. He was happy to learn the store owner was okay.
"Just scared the life out of me because the guy at TW, he's one of my best friends, and I thought he gotten shot," Bobby said.
Thee shooting leaves neighbors feeling on-edge.
"I'm scared to death of what's going on here," Bobby said.
The motive for the shooting is unknown but Glossen says it's not gang-related.
Sunnyside police asked Washington State Patrol to conduct the investigation. They say that is their policy whenever an officer is involved in a shooting. That officer is on paid administrative leave.
Sunnyside Police Sgt. Joey Glossen says the man had been firing a gun near a convenience store and continued as an officer arrived and took a defensive position.
Glossen says when the man turned the gun toward the officer, the officer fired.
Yakima County Coroner Jack Hawkins identified the man as 27-year-old Ramon Ayala.
"Guy was out in front of the store shooting rounds up in the air and shot the windows on the store," Jaramaya Long said. "I guess there was bullet holes in them."
Jaramaya lives across the street from the store. He said he heard the shots and ran outside. That's when he says he saw a motionless body on the ground.
"From what I heard, got shot and killed," Jaramaya said.
Neighbors told KIMA they're not surprised it happened here. They say the owner of the store recently ran into a lot of problems, especially with people trying to steal alcohol from him.
"When he's working in the back of the store. I go in there and I catch them and I tell them don't be taking the drinks," Bobby Long said.
Bobby said he's also noticed an increase in what he calls gang-related graffiti near the mini-mart. He was happy to learn the store owner was okay.
"Just scared the life out of me because the guy at TW, he's one of my best friends, and I thought he gotten shot," Bobby said.
Thee shooting leaves neighbors feeling on-edge.
"I'm scared to death of what's going on here," Bobby said.
The motive for the shooting is unknown but Glossen says it's not gang-related.
Sunnyside police asked Washington State Patrol to conduct the investigation. They say that is their policy whenever an officer is involved in a shooting. That officer is on paid administrative leave.
It is always a tragedy when the police have to use force this way. But this young man flashed around a gun. A Police Officer could very well have been killed here. The young man and his entire family could very well be Model citizens , but the officers have no way of knowing that.
Yeah thats why the cop in on leave. I know exactly what happened, I am extremely close with the family. And I know all the little details. He could have handled the situiation completely different. They did not need to take a life. You dont jnow them or what happened so whatever you say is void.
@Ashleigh He's on leave because that is standard protocol after a shooting. It's too bad at 27 yrs of age, your ex BIL didn't know waving or pointing a gun at a police man WILL get them shot and possibly killed. One less worthless POS off the streets!
GOOD JOB Sunnyside Police
@Ashleigh Ayala chose to die ...whether it was that day or another..be thankful no innocent bystander was injured
I just want to thank the officer for protecting the community , you had no choice but to take his life, Ayala made the decision to die by his irresponsible actions !
Great job to the sunnyside police for doing what they are supposed to do by serving and protecting the sunnyside community. Wildly shooting a gun is a really bad thing to do because bullets go up and guess what, they must come back down and thats extremely dangerous for anybody who is around the area. So agian Thank you sunnyside police for your steadfast courage and bravery when it comes to having to deal with dangerous situations as such.
The man is dead he is my boyfriends brother the police shot him 3 times in the stomach.