Julio Cesar Segura, 22, stands in Clark County Superior Court during his conviction on May 24, 2024. Segura robbed a gas station and led a high-speed chase that resulted in a deputy mistakenly shooting off-duty Vancouver Police Department Officer Donald Sahota.
Courtesy of KGW
A Clark County jury on Friday convicted a Yakima man for murder after he held up a gas station, fled the scene and ultimately led a Clark County deputy to inadvertently shoot and kill an off-duty Vancouver officer.
Jurors found that Julio Segura, 22, caused the fatal shooting of Donald Sahota, whose house he ran to in January 2021 while police chased him for robbing a gas station. Responding sheriff’s deputy Jon Feller shot and killed Sahota, mistaking him for the suspect.
The first-degree murder conviction means Segura will likely face a 20-year prison sentence, according to his attorneys.
“It was a difficult case. And I think Clark County needs to take a hard look on how they deal with officer-involved shootings,” defense attorney Michele Michalek said.
While jurors found Segura caused the killing, they ruled he didn’t intend for Sahota to die. They acquitted him of a first-degree, premeditated murder charge.
Initially, Segura left the Sahota home without incident. But the veteran police officer, who was home with his wife, grabbed his handgun and attempted to arrest Segura in his driveway. Segura resisted and stabbed Sahota multiple times during the fight.
As Segura then fled into Sahota’s house, Clark County deputies began arriving in their patrol cars. Feller, who was among the first to arrive, exited his car and saw Sahota pick up a gun and run toward the house. Feller opened fire roughly four seconds after arriving.
The Clark County Medical Examiner’s office found that Sahota died from multiple gunshot wounds to the torso.
Prosecutors argued that Segura was so desperate to escape he intended to kill — not injure — Sahota. They also acknowledged, however, that Sahota likely would have survived the knife wounds with first-responders near the scene.
Prosecutors also argued, after he broke free and ran into the house, that Segura tried to kidnap Sahota’s wife and burglarize the home. Jurors found him not guilty of those charges.
Segura and his defense team didn’t dispute the crimes that set the chaos in motion: Segura stole a car from a dealership in Yakima and eventually held-up a gas station in Vancouver with a replica handgun.
Their chief, yet unsuccessful, defense contended Segura was cornered by Sahota and that Feller recklessly opened fire on the unfolding scene.
Ed Dunkerly, Segura’s other defense attorney, argued that local law enforcement needs more training.
When asked whether he planned to appeal, Dunkerly said their argument is still strong. “That’s a dog that will hunt,” he said.
Clark County Prosecutor Tony Golik did not respond to requests for comment.
Segura is scheduled to be sentenced June 27.
