Vancouver Police Deadly Force Investigation Passes 60-Day Mark

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The Washington State Office of Independent Investigations (OII) is over 60 days into its investigation of a Vancouver Police Department use of deadly force incident that resulted in the death of 44-year-old Perry J. Sellars. The incident occurred in late December 2025 after officers Sean Donaldson and Christopher Holmquist responded to a disturbance call involving a weapon.

Why it matters

The OII was created in 2021 to conduct independent investigations of deadly use of force by law enforcement in Washington state. This case is an important test of the new agency's ability to thoroughly and objectively review such incidents.

The details

According to police, officers were called to a disturbance involving a weapon on NE 46th Street in Vancouver. They encountered Sellars, who had allegedly fired at least one round from a firearm and pointed it at a woman. During the confrontation, Donaldson and Holmquist discharged their weapons, fatally striking Sellars. OII investigators have collected security footage, body cam video, and conducted witness interviews as part of the ongoing probe.

• The incident occurred around midnight on Saturday, December 27, 2025.
• The OII investigation passed the 60-day mark as of March 11, 2026.

What’s next

Once the OII investigation is completed, a Final Case Report will be posted to the agency's website.