By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – The Napavine man fatally shot by a Lewis County sheriff’s deputy early Thursday had superficial cuts on the side of his neck and on one wrist but he died from gunshot wounds to his head and stomach, according to the Lewis County Coroner’s Office.
Gregory S. Kaufman, 64, was pronounced dead at the scene off the side of state Route 6 after an encounter with Deputy Matt Wallace around 12:15 a.m.
Wallace said when he approached the parked car near Boistfort to see if the driver needed assistance, a heavily bleeding man lunged out of his vehicle with a large knife, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.
Few other details have been released; the sheriff’s office says more information will come from an investigation conducted by a team of deputies from surrounding counties.
Coroner Warren McLeod said yesterday the autopsy determined the lacerations did not contribute to Kaufman’s death.
Wallace, a nine year member of the sheriff’s office, is on paid administrative leave as is standard procedure, according to the sheriff’s office.
Sixteen months ago when another Lewis County deputy fatally shot a citizen, it was about a week and a half later when the prosecutor completed his review of the outside investigation as to whether the shooting was justified.
An internal investigation was completed about a week after that.
In that case, Deputy Matt McKnight was cleared, but the family of 33-year-old Steven V. Petersen has recently filed a lawsuit saying McKnight engaged in a ‘shoot first and ask questions later’ approach to law enforcement.
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For background, read “Deputy fatally shoots Napavine man on state Route 6” from Thursday November 1, 2012 at 8:30 a.m., here [1]