Just after 11:00am Tuesday morning, May 18th, Emergency Communications of Southern Oregon, received a 911 call reporting a domestic disturbance on Queens Branch Rd., Rogue River, with the victim advising he thought the suspect was going to “kill” him.
Jackson County Sheriff Deputies were dispatched to the location with the first deputy arriving just before 11:30am and learning the suspect in the domestic assault had left the location. The victim had visible injury due to being assaulted by the suspect, and told the deputies the suspect, a 32 year old male, may be armed with a firearm and suicidal when he left the location.
As the deputy was finishing the initial investigation into the domestic disturbance, the suspect came back to the residence in his vehicle, holding a rifle. A short time later, about 11:42am, the deputy reported shots had been fired.
The incident was captured on the Deputy’s Body Worn Camera. The involved deputy fired several rounds from his duty handgun into the vehicle, striking the suspect several times. The deputy involved and the deputies who arrived on scene shortly after the incident rendered aid, but the suspect was pronounced deceased at the location by medical personnel. The firearm the suspect had in his possession was loaded.
The incident is currently being investigated by the Jackson County Major Assault and Death Investigation Unit, and the Medford Police Department is the agency leading the investigation. Members of the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office, the Medford Police Department, the Oregon State Police, and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office are all assisting with the investigation.
The deputy involved in the incident has been placed on administrative leave, and once the investigation is completed the information will be forwarded to the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office for review and presentation to the Grand Jury. At the request of the family, authorities are not releasing the name of the suspect at this time.
