Suspect identified in officer-involved shooting

MOSES LAKE - The man fatally shot by Moses Lake police Monday night was identified as 54-year-old James Eshelman, according to the Grant County Coroner's Office.

Eshelman was shot about 5:30 p.m. Monday after officers responded to a disturbance at a home in the 2000 block of South Belair Drive. Eshelman was reportedly outside yelling and throwing garbage cans into the street before officers arrived.

According to police reports, Eshelman was armed with a large knife when officers contacted him.

At some point, an officer shot Eshelman, who was transported to Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake where he was pronounced dead.

The Grant County Coroner's Office said an autopsy is scheduled for Thursday.

The name of the officer involved was not released Tuesday. The officer was placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard protocol for these types of incidents, Chief Dave Ruffin said Tuesday.

"While the incident is still being investigated by the Columbia Basin Investigative Team, most of the officers have been interviewed and the scene has been processed," Ruffin said.

Ruffin said more information is expected to be released Friday at the earliest to ensure investigators are allowed adequate time to complete the investigation.