A man suspected of killing a Coos Bay woman was fatally shot by police near his hotel, the Coos County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement Wednesday.
Matthew Tyler Mikel, 37, was confronted by police Tuesday just after 7:30 p.m. at the Global Inn after investigators connected him to the killing of 34-year-old Amber Townsend days before, District Attorney Paul Frasier said.
An altercation broke out, and two officers fired their handguns, hitting Mikel at least once, Frasier said. Mikel was declared dead at Bay Area Hospital.
On June 11, Coos County police responded around 8:30 a.m. to reports of a woman on the ground near the 92600 Block of Cape Arago Highway. Townsend, Coos Bay resident, was found with multiple shotgun wounds, Frasier said.
Investigators believe Townsend was walking on the highway when she was shot. She was taken to Bay Area Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Coos County’s protocol involving police shootings prevents Coos County Sheriff’s Office and Coos Bay police from investigating the incident, Frasier said. Oregon State Police will lead the investigation.
This is the second killing in Coos Bay in a week. Four days before Townsend’s death, 47-year-old Rebecca Reeves was found dead in her home. KMTR reports the suspect, Johnny Ray Bohannon, 47, was arrested on charges of second-degree murder.
A news conference on the police shooting will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.
– Austin De Dios; adedios@oregonian.com; @austindedios
