UPDATED 11 p.m. Sunday, April 14: Suspect in SW Washington deputy killing now dead

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A manhunt is underway for suspects in the killing of a southwest Washington sheriff’s deputy.

The search comes after Cowlitz County Deputy Justin DeRosier was shot after being sent to check on a disabled vehicle that was blocking a road about three miles east of Interstate 5 late Saturday, authorities said. DeRosier died during surgery at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver shortly after midnight, according to Sheriff Brad Thurman.

DeRosier was 29 years old. He and his wife had their first child, a daughter, in October.

Commander John Horch of the neighboring Clark County Sheriff’s Office said a regional SWAT team was on a manhunt for the suspect or suspects.

Detectives were talking to witnesses and people of interest in the case, Horch said Sunday afternoon. Authorities were also processing the crime scene and a nearby home where a search warrant had been served earlier that day.

An official said Sunday night that an additional shooting connected to DeRosier’s killing had occurred. She couldn’t confirm whether law enforcement officers were involved. No injuries had been reported, and details about the shooting — including how it’s linked to DeRosier’s killing — were unclear.

DeRosier’s death is the first time a Cowlitz County sheriff’s deputy has died while on duty, the sheriff said. He was one of two law enforcement officers in the region to be shot late Saturday.

A Milwaukie police officer suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his leg in an exchange of gunfire, according to police. He was released from a hospital Sunday. A 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of shooting the officer, who hasn’t been publicly identified.

DeRosier graduated from Kelso High School and Washington State University and signed on with the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office in 2016.

Darren Ullmann, Cowlitz County undersheriff, said few law enforcement officers want to serve more than DeRosier did. The deputy loved his job, Ullmann said, and “was incredibly good at it.”

“He will be with us forever, and he’ll be truly missed,” Ullmann said.

Deputies urge anyone who has information about the shooting to call 360-577-3098.

-- Jim Ryan; jryan@oregonian.com; 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015

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