Shooting investigation moves forward
ROYAL CITY - Grant County Sheriff's detectives are close to completing an investigation into the Oct. 24 shooting death of a domestic violence suspect by a Royal City Police officer.
Officer Rey Rodriguez remains on paid administrative leave this week, pending the results of the investigation.
Rodriguez was assisting with the removal of a woman from a domestic violence situation last Monday when Pedro Salgado Ceja, 45, reportedly came at him with a flat-bottom shovel.
Investigators have so far spoken with at least four cooperative witnesses and at least three who were uncooperative, according to Kyle Foreman, spokesman for the Columbia Basin Investigative Team.
Rodriguez reportedly attempted to use a less-lethal option - possibly pepper spray - to stop Ceja before firing six rounds from his firearm, some of which hit Ceja in the torso.
Forensics investigators are recreating Ceja's motions and the trajectory of the bullets in order to determine exactly how many bullets hit Ceja, Foreman said Monday. Foreman said by way of example that Ceja may have been hit in the arm by a bullet which then continued into the body.
Grant County Coroner Craig Morrison performed an autopsy on Ceja's body last week, but would not publicly release the number of gunshot wounds found until after the forensics investigation was complete, Foreman said.
Ceja was in a long-term relationship with the woman who was set to be removed from the home, Foreman said, although their marital status is yet unknown. The couple had two children together but Foreman was unable to confirm their ages or if they were present when the shooting occurred.
The results of the police investigation should be forwarded to the Grant County Prosecutor's Office sometime this week or next, Foreman said.
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