Officers cleared in 2023 fatal shooting

EAST WENATCHEE — No criminal charges will be filed against four law enforcement officers involved in the December 2023 shooting of Troy A. McMaster in East Wenatchee, according to a prosecutor's decision released this week.

Douglas County Prosecuting Attorney W. Gordon Edgar concluded that the use of deadly force by three Chelan County Sheriff's deputies and one Wenatchee Police officer was "not unlawful under the totality of the circumstances" during the December 17, 2023, incident.

The North Central Washington Special Investigation Unit (NCW SIU) completed its investigation into the shooting that occurred in the 2500 block of Eastmont Extension. The findings were presented to Edgar, who released his decision on April 11.

According to Edgar's review, the incident began when McMaster's brother called 911 reporting McMaster was suicidal. Shortly after, McMaster himself called 911 stating "it will not end well for law enforcement if they respond, and they will find his body at the VA."

Security cameras at the Chelan County PUD building near the VA clinic captured McMaster driving to the facility, exiting his vehicle with a gun, and firing "several rounds into the VA clinic glass doors and windows." The footage also showed McMaster pointing his pistol at another person who arrived on scene.

After officers arrived and attempted to stop McMaster's vehicle with a Grappler device and spike strips, he eventually stopped on Eastmont Extension Road. Edgar's report states that when McMaster exited his vehicle as commanded, "he is holding a pistol."

For approximately three minutes, officers gave verbal commands for McMaster to drop his weapon, but he refused. When the magazine fell from McMaster's pistol, he "proceeds to bend down and pick up the magazine and load it back into the pistol," according to the report.

When McMaster moved the pistol toward officers, one officer fired a non-lethal rubber round, knocking McMaster to the ground. Despite this, McMaster "still refused to let go of the pistol," the report states, and when he continued to move the weapon, several officers opened fire, striking him in the foot and leg.

The report indicates officers continued giving verbal commands for McMaster to move away from the pistol for approximately 17 minutes before he complied. Once he distanced himself from the weapon, officers provided medical aid.

Edgar determined the officers had probable cause to arrest McMaster for multiple crimes, including second-degree assault while armed with a firearm, reckless endangerment, malicious mischief, discharging a firearm in public, attempting to elude police, obstructing a law enforcement officer, and resisting arrest.

"Prior to using deadly force, the officers attempted to de-escalate the situation by giving McMaster an opportunity to disarm, and his failure to do so is disconcerting," Edgar wrote in his decision. "It is apparent to me the use of deadly force by the officers was necessary and that no other reasonable alternatives were available."

The officers involved were identified as CCSO Sgt. Brian Lewis, CCSO Sgt. Adam Musgrove, CCSO Andrew Tilton, and WPD Officer Eric Magnussen.