The male suspect who was shot and wounded by police officers Sunday after allegedly firing shots into an empty Veterans Affairs clinic has been identified as Troy Allen McMaster, a United States Army veteran from East Wenatchee, Washington.
According to a press release obtained by The Wenatchee World, investigators into Sunday’s shooting incident McMaster allegedly drove a pickup truck into the Department of Veterans Affairs Elwood “Bud” Link Community-Based Outpatient Clinic, located in Olds Station, prior to firing multiple shots into the empty building.
The North Central Washington Special Investigation Unit explained that officers with the Wenatchee Police Department and the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office pursued McMaster to the 2500 block of Eastmont Avenue, which is located outside of East Wenatchee. During an armed confrontation with the authorities, McMaster was shot multiple times.
The press release obtained by The Wenatchee World noted that McMaster, age 54, was arrested for the unlawful discharge of a firearm and first-degree malicious mischief, as well as suspicion of first-degree assault.
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The Wenatchee World shared that the unidentified officers and deputies involved in Sunday’s incident were placed on administration leave, which is a standard procedure. The outlet added that the number of law enforcement officers involved in the incident has not yet been disclosed.
According to Lt. Colonel Ruth Castro, an Army spokesperson, McMaster served as a military police officer in the U.S. Army from November 1987 to November 1991. McMaster was deployed to Southwest Asia from August 1990 to April 1991 and reached the rank of specialist by the end of his enlistment period.
According to The Wenatchee World, Douglas County deputies were notified at 8:42 p.m. on Sunday that McMaster was sending text messages threatening self-harm; however, attempts by law enforcement to contact McMaster were not successful.
Following Sunday’s pursuit by law enforcement officials, McMaster was reportedly shot by officers at roughly 11:16 p.m. as a result of the armed confrontation.
After he was shot by responding law enforcement officers, McMaster was transported to Confluence Health Hospital before being airlifted to the Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Douglas County Undersheriff Tyler Caille told The Wenatchee World that McMaster underwent a successful surgical operation on Monday and was moved out of intensive care by Tuesday.
According to The Wenatchee World, the North Central Washington Special Investigation Unit is not expected to release additional information regarding Sunday’s shooting until sometime next week.