The 43-year-old Bainbridge man who was shot by Bainbridge police last night has been identified as Douglas Ostling.
Police were called to 7700 Springridge Drive, on the island’s west side, just before 9 p.m.
According to police, Ostling was yelling incoherently and acted in an aggressive manner toward police. When he came at police with a double-headed ax, the officers fired several shots. At least one bullet struck Ostling in the lower torso. Ostling then barricaded himself in an apartment and was found dead later.
A neighbor told me this morning that Ostling appeared to suffer from a mental illness. She had been told by Ostling’s parents to avoid eye contact with him.
Head over HERE to see the story we’ve been updating since last night.
I knew Doug Ostling. He suffered from such symptoms as auditory hallucinations and delusions for over 20 years. Doug was intelligent and highly skilled, especially in terms of anything to do with bicylces. His death was a tragedy. I’ll add that he was deeply religious and not an abuser of illegal drugs.
Besides entrepreneurial stock investments, Doug was highly adept at bicycle repair. I’m terribly saddened by his demise.