A homicide suspect is dead, and an Oregon State Police trooper was seriously injured on Sunday evening in a shootout following a car chase, reports CBS affiliate KOIN.
The trooper was shot multiple times and has been hospitalized with life threatening injuries.
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The incident began when police were called to an apartment complex in response to possible gunshots being fired around 10:15 p.m. Sunday, in King City, Oregon. When they arrived, they found an unidentified woman dead inside an apartment, according to Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies identified the suspect accused of killing the woman as James Tylka, 30, and his vehicle was spotted by officers driving away from the homicide scene. Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Oregon State Police, joined in pursuit of Tylka. The chase ended in Sherwood, Oregon, about five miles away.
As police closed in on Tylka, he allegedly opened fire, shooting one trooper. The suspect was shot and died at the scene.
Tylka was a cadet member for Beaverton (OR) Police Department from 2004-2006.
Court records indicate he was married and also had an ex-wife, who he reportedly had several years of disputes with regarding custody and child support payments.
The woman filed for immediate temporary custody of their child in September, saying the boy was in danger of potential abuse. The woman said Tylka spoke about suicide in September 2015, drawing a call to police, before leaving town for 4 months.
She wrote that they agreed to joint custody in May 2016 but he had been acting irrational, impulsive and aggressive, constantly pressuring the boy for updates about what she is doing at home.
The name of the Trooper has not yet been released. The Trooper is reported to be a seven year veteran of the agency with prior service in the United States Army.
