One week after 25-year-old Bryson Hays died following an officer-involved shooting on Southwest Hall Boulevard, investigators have not confirmed whether police gunfire caused his death.
Hays died Sunday, July 5, after what Beaverton police called an armed robbery attempt and subsequent officer-involved shooting outside a business on Southwest Hall Boulevard. The Hillsboro Police Department, acting on behalf of the Washington County Major Crimes Team, released Hays' name on Friday, July 10.
Three Beaverton Police Department officers were placed on paid administrative leave after the shooting. The department has not identified them. Paid leave is standard procedure during officer-involved shooting investigations.
What investigators have confirmed
The Washington County Major Crimes Team, a multi-agency unit, is leading the investigation. Through the Hillsboro Police Department, the team has confirmed:
- The man who died was Bryson Hays, 25.
- The shooting occurred outside a business on Southwest Hall Boulevard.
- Three Beaverton officers are on administrative leave.
- The incident involved an armed robbery attempt followed by a police response.
Beyond those facts, the public record is sparse.
What remains unanswered
As of Saturday, July 12, investigators have not publicly addressed several questions central to the case:
Did police gunfire cause Hays' death, or did he die from another cause? What was the sequence of events leading to the shooting? Were any officers or bystanders injured? When will the investigation conclude?
No Beaverton Police Department or Major Crimes Team press release has been issued beyond the name identification. No press conference has been scheduled.
Investigation process
The investigation is being handled by an outside multi-agency team, which is standard practice in Washington County for officer-involved shootings. Once the Major Crimes Team completes its review, the Washington County District Attorney's Office will determine whether the use of force was justified.
The three officers will remain on leave until that review concludes.
The Washington County Major Crimes Team has not announced a timeline for releasing findings or providing additional details to the public.
Lauren Bishop of the Beaverton Valley Times first reported Hays' identification on Friday, July 10.
