Washington State Trooper Scott Johnson was shot twice, once in the head while conducting an inventory on a vehicle about to towed.  The incident happend Saturday morning at about 1am. This marks at least the 8th law enforcement officer to be shot in Washington is the last couple of months.  Six of those ended in fataltities. 

MyNorthwest.com reported the following:

A Washington State Patrol trooper has been shot while taking inventory of a vehicle about to be towed.

The patrol says Trooper Scott Johnson was shot shortly before 1 a.m. Saturday along State Route 103. A man walked up and had a short exchange with Johnson and the tow truck driver, then pulled out a handgun and shot Johnson twice, including once to the head.

The patrol says Johnson returned fire but it wasn’t known if the man was hit. Johnson was taken to a hospital in Long Beach, then to a hospital in Portland.

Trooper Krista Hedstrom says Johnson is alert and conscious, but in considerable pain at Oregon Health and Science University Hospital. Doctors believe his injuries are not life threatening.

The driver of the vehicle being towed had been arrested for driving while impaired and taken to a nearby police station. Authorities say there is currently no evidence the DUI arrest and the shooting are related.

The only thing that goes through my mind is “not again.”  While my job is to challenge the things that officer’s do on behalf of my clients I have also come to know many of these officers as friends.  My heart goes out to the family of Trooper Johnson and all of his colleagues.