On the evening of March 19, 2019, Kittitas County Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Thompson, 42, was killed in the line of duty after responding to a reported road rage incident. Deputy Thompson located the erratic driver and tried to initiate a traffic stop; the driver refused and led deputies on a pursuit. Kittitas police officer Benito Chavez joined the chase to assist.

When the pursuit ended the suspect stopped, exited his vehicle, and opened fire on both officers. Deputy Thompson and Officer Chavez were struck. The officers returned fire; the suspect, identified as 29-year-old Juan Manuel Flores Del Toro, and Deputy Thompson both died of their wounds. Officer Chavez survived after being wounded. The Ellensburg Police Department handled the investigation and no arrests were made because the lone suspect was deceased.

If anyone has information about the events that night or knew Deputy Thompson, please share what you know.