SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — The Spokane County Medical Examiner's Office has identified the victim as 41-year-old Nicholas Kaussaen.
The medical examiner's office said he died of gunshot wounds and the manner of death was a homicide.
The Spokane County Sheriff's Office has identified the deputy who shot Kaussaen as Thomas Walton.
According to Spokane County Sheriff's Corporal Mark Gregory, Walton joined the department in September 2017 and is also a member of the SWAT Team. He also served the United States Marine Corps for seven years, two of which were in the reserves.
Walton was previously with the Riverside County Sheriff's Office from 2012 until his transfer to Spokane County, according to the sheriff's office.
A Spokane Valley Sheriff's deputy tried to conduct a traffic stop on Kaussaen, who they said was driving recklessly around 6:45 p.m. Sunday, according to Gregory. The man continued driving, initiating a chase with police, Gregory said.
Kaussaen allegedly continued to drive recklessly and continued to hit parked cars, go into opposite lanes and swerve at high speeds, Gregory said. Deputies tried to stop Kaussaen with spike strips, but were unsuccessful, Gregory said.
A deputy attempted to stop Kaussaen's car by hitting it with a patrol car near Sprague and University, Gregory said. The patrol car and the suspect's car were both damaged.
Kaussaen then allegedly drove toward another marked patrol car with two deputies inside, Gregory said. Walton fired his gun, hitting the suspect.
Deputies provided first aid until Spokane Valley Fire and medics arrived, but the Kaussaen died at the scene, Gregory said.
As per standard protocol, Walton has been placed on administrative leave along with two other deputies who were directly involved in the incident, Gregory said.
The Spokane Independent Investigative Response Team is investigating the incident. The Spokane Police Department is the managing agency.