On August 9, 2025, Yakima Police Department officers responded to reports of gunfire near 12th Street and Washington Avenue in Yakima, Washington. A 33-year-old woman was found deceased, and a 13-year-old boy was transported to the hospital with injuries.
Later that evening, officers located a vehicle believed to be connected to the homicide and immobilized it. During the attempt to take the suspect into custody, the individual produced a handgun and opened fire on officers. Multiple officers returned fire during the exchange.
Detective Brock Dunmore was struck by gunfire during the crossfire. The round impacted the left upper back at the outer edge of his Aardvark Project 7 Xternal Patrol Vest (XPV), equipped with Safariland® SX02 IIIA armor. Instead of penetrating his chest cavity or shoulder blade, the projectile deflected off the armor, altering its trajectory and resulting in a keyhole wound to his deltoid and forearm. The positioning and coverage of Dunmore’s ballistic vest prevented what could have been a catastrophic thoracic injury. He was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and released later that day.
Detective Dunmore’s survival underscores the critical importance of properly fitted and worn ballistic protection. A fraction of an inch in coverage and deflection changed the outcome, turning what could have been a fatal penetrating chest wound into survivable extremity injuries.
This marks the 3rd Save in our partnership with Aardvark Tactical.
We welcome Detective Brock Dunmore as Save #2279 to The Safariland Group Saves Club®.