A man shot and critically injured by Milwaukie police earlier this week was unarmed, according to the Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office.
In a statement Thursday, prosecutors said Hunter Newton, 21, remains hospitalized from a Monday shooting that took place in a Taco Bell drive-thru.
Milwaukie Police Department officers had stopped Newton at 12:55 a.m. Monday and found him to be driving on a suspended license for a misdemeanor, according to the statement. Newton had faced a charge of driving under the influence in April, but had not been convicted at the time of the shooting.
Court records indicate attorneys for Newton and the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office were working to possibly send Newton to a diversion program. It is unclear if police originally stopped Newton because of his suspended license or if officers learned that after the shooting.
Milwaukie police stated that Newton refused to exit his car when they stopped him. Video of the shooting shows police vehicles blocking Newton’s vehicle inside the Taco Bell parking lot.
“Despite orders to exit and efforts to remove Newton from the car he continued to refuse and resisted removal,” Clackamas prosecutors said in their statement.
Related: Milwaukie police shoot, injure man outside Taco Bell
Two officers — Sgt. Eduardo Sanchez and Officer Kwasean Akom — then fired their weapons, striking Newton inside of his vehicle.
Sanchez has worked with Milwaukie police since 2020 after roughly six years with the Forest Grove Police Department. Akom completed his police field training with Milwaukie in January. Both officers are on paid leave, which is standard procedure during an officer shooting investigation.
Milwaukie police has given its body-worn camera footage to the district attorney’s office and Clackamas County’s major crimes team, which is investigating the circumstances that led to the shooting.
“I want to express our sincere thoughts and prayers to the family of Hunter Newton, who is currently in the vital care of medical staff and surrounded by family and friends,” Milwaukie Police Chief Ryan Burdick said in a statement Wednesday.
The Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office and Milwaukie Police Department declined to provide further comment on the shooting.
