PULLMAN – The Whitman County Prosecutor has found that last year’s fatal officer involved shooting in Pullman was lawful and appropriate.
Denis Tracy has reviewed the investigation from the Washington State Patrol into the December 14th incident. 36-year-old Brent Kopacka threatened to shoot one of his roommates inside an apartment building near the Washington State University campus. When Pullman Police Officers arrived Kopacka barricaded himself inside his apartment and threatened to start killing people. He then fired at officers and toward a WSU dorm.
The Whitman County SWAT Team was called in and was unable to bring Kopacka into custody with the use of less than lethal force. The team’s sniper WSU Police Sgt. Brett Boyd ended the five hour standoff when he shot and killed Kopacka.
Tracy determined that Sgt. Boyd’s actions were lawful and appropriate and he will not face any prosecution. Tracy found that there did not appear to be any reasonable alternative to the lethal force that Sgt. Boyd had to use to protect the community.
Tracy’s report goes on to suggest that Kopacka’s death should be considered a casualty of the Afghanistan War. Kopacka served with valor and distinction in the Army and suffered a traumatic brain injury from an IED explosion. He suffered from PTSD which Tracy believes might have played a role in his actions leading up to his death.
Tracy has informed Kopacka’s mother about his decision.
The incident was the first fatal officer involved shooting in Whitman County in over 20 years. The Whitman County SWAT team is comprised of Pullman and WSU Police Officers and Whitman County Sheriff’s Deputies.