Following a three-week trial, a 23-year old Yakima man was sentenced to 29 years in prison for the 2022 murder of Vancouver Police officer Donald Sahota at Sahota’s Battle Ground home.
Julio Segura, 23, of Yakima, was convicted of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, first-degree robbery, possession of a stolen vehicle and attempting to elude law enforcement officers.
“Today’s sentencing of 29 years in prison for the defendant in the murder of officer Donald Sahota provides the family and friends Don left behind the opportunity to start healing from what has been an excruciatingly painful 2 ½ years,” Vancouver Police Chief Jeff Mori said in a release. “The Sahota family will remain in our prayers, and the memory of Don Sahota and his contributions to the law enforcement profession, his community and the Vancouver Police Department will continue to live on.”
A Clark County Superior Court jury convicted Segura of the crimes last month but acquitted him on charges of attempted murder, attempted kidnapping and first-degree burglary.
Segura was at Sahota’s Battle Ground residence after a robbery turned into a high-speed chase and manhunt that started off of state Route 503 near Brush Prairie, investigators said in a 2022 report.
The events leading up to the Jan. 29, 2022, slaying of Sahota began when an employee at the Chevron gas station at the corner of Northeast 117th Avenue and Northeast 99th Street called to report he had just been robbed. About 10 minutes later, a deputy spotted the suspect vehicle heading northbound on Interstate 205 near Padden Parkway. The vehicle was traveling roughly 100 mph, according to radio traffic.
Segura merged onto Interstate 5 and took the Northeast 179th Street exit onto Northeast 10th Avenue, turning east onto state Route 502, according to the 2022 investigation.
Segura avoided deployed spike strips, drove into an oncoming lane and crashed, according to the investigation. He then fled on foot in the area of Northeast 219th Street and Northeast 79th Court. Law enforcement set up a containment area and aircraft from the sheriff’s office, and Portland police were deployed.
Responding officers soon received an updated description of Segura, who was described as a “darker-skinned white male” with shaggy hair, who was wearing a white long-sleeved shirt with a black undershirt, a hat, a mask and glasses.
At about that time, aerial surveillance identified Segura near Sahota’s residence. Infrared video showed Segura walking up to the porch of the house. Minutes later, emergency services received a 911 call about a stranger at a residence in the area.
The caller, Sahota’s wife, was in a different part of the house at the start of the call, she told 911. She said Sahota was an off-duty police officer and was armed.
Aerial footage shows Segura walk away from the front door as Sahota is heard describing Segura as a Latino male on the call. Sahota’s wife then told 911 her husband and Segura were in an “altercation.” Aerial footage showed Sahota held Segura on the ground and the two struggled. Sahota’s gun dropped during the struggle.
Aerial surveillance shows the struggle ended as Segura ran for the door, and then Clark County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jonathan Feller’s vehicle arrived. Sahota appears to retrieve the gun he dropped and then go after Segura, attempting to kick the door in, according to the investigation. Feller is seen exiting his vehicle, aiming and shooting four times in a matter of seconds. Three of the shots hit Sahota and one hit the house. Several additional officers then arrived on scene.
Footage shows that Feller was the first to arrive at Sahota’s Battle Ground home as Sahota and Segura struggled in the driveway.
In a 2022 interview during the investigation, Feller recounted his thoughts and actions during the shooting. On arrival, he said he knew there was a fight and a gun had been dropped.
“I just watched someone pick it up and run toward the house,” Feller told investigators, noting the person matched the last description of the suspect he was given.
Feller commanded Sahota, who he believed was the suspect, to get on the ground, which was overheard by a witnessing officer, according to the investigation. Feller said he believed Sahota was going to kill those in the residence and shot at him to stop the threat.
About a minute after Sahota was shot, Segura was seen exiting through the front door with his hands up before getting on the ground. Officers then move in to detain Segura and assist Sahota. Sahota’s wife exited through the garage and was escorted away by officers, according to aerial footage.
Segura told investigators he stabbed Sahota three times with a knife. At the time in 2022, Segura told investigators he believed his actions had killed Sahota.
Sahota’s autopsy showed he was stabbed in the upper torso and abdomen “causing great bodily harm.” The Clark County Medical Examiner ultimately ruled it was the three shots that killed Sahota.
Segura told investigators the weapon he used to rob the store was an airsoft gun, which was later located in the woods near the scene.
It was determined that Feller’s quick actions did not violate the agency’s use-of-force policy, records stated. The Clark County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office did not charge Feller in the death of Sahota.
•••
This report included information previously reported by The Reflector.
Most Popular
Comments / 0