BEND, OR -- A Bend Police Officer is on paid "critical incident leave," following a Wednesday night shooting. According to the agency, the officer responded to a report of a non-injury crash on the Parkway, near Butler Market Road, just after 8:15 p.m.

Authorities say multiple witnesses told officers they saw a vehicle driving recklessly and speeding, nearly causing several other crashes. Officers found the suspect vehicle and its driver at the scene of the Parkway crash. At about 8:30 p.m., the officer shot the suspect. Despite life-saving efforts, the driver died. 

The incident occurred in the northbound lanes, but the entire highway was closed for more than three hours. Northbound traffic was detoured until about 5:30 a.m. Thursday.

The Tri-County Major Incident Team is investigating; the officer-involved shooting investigation will be overseen by the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office.  

AFTERNOON UPDATE: The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation into Wednesday night's fatal officer involved shooting on the Bend Parkway. Sgt. Jason Wall tells KBND News the man shot by Bend Police has been identified as Gabriel Platz, who was reportedly seen driving recklessly before being involved in a three-vehicle crash, "They responded to a motor vehicle crash. While investigating the crash, they contacted an 18-year-old male out of Bend. During that contact, Mr. Platz brandished a firearm moments before an officer from the Bend Police Department discharged their agency-issued firearm." Wall says Platz was the sole occupant of his vehicle. 

"The Major Incident Team, which is comprised of all tri-county law enforcement agencies, to include the Oregon State Police, are all coming together and utilizing the full resources of every single individual agency towards investigating this one event," says Sgt. Wall. Bend Police utilizes body-worn cameras, but footage has not been released. 

file photo