Oregon State Troopers have been vigorously investigating shootings on Interstate-5 that spread across Douglas, Josephine and Jackson Counties since the first reported incident on May 12th in Josephine County which also includes Wednesday evenings, August 19th shooting.
During the course of the Oregon State Police investigation, it was believed that a UPS truck could have been involved in the incidents.
Immediately following the Wednesday evening incident, Troopers were able to locate a UPS Tractor trailer combination approximately 1 hour and 60 miles north of the shooting. Through the subsequent investigation the truck was seized, and after full cooperation from UPS throughout the investigation, UPS arranged for another truck to pick up the trailers, and a search warrant was applied for and served.
The search of the truck revealed a firearm consistent with the type used and at approximately 11:00pm, 49 year old Kenneth Ayers of Roseburg, Oregon, was subsequently arrested in connection with the shooting, and lodged in the Jackson County Jail on charges of Attempted Murder, Assault, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Criminal Mischief, and Recklessly Endangering Another Person.
The Oregon State Police became aware that previous to May, Mr. Ayers route was north of Roseburg and beginning in May his route took him south of Roseburg and also took him to Hwy. 140 and Hwy. 62.
OSP investigators are continuing to asking anyone with information to contact the Oregon State Police regarding any of the investigations believed to involve Mr. Ayers along Interstate-5 including the May 12th shooting in Josephine County, the June 2nd incident in Jackson County, June 15th incident in Douglas County, the June 22nd incident in Josephine County, the July 7th incident in Douglas County, the July 9th incident in Josephine County and Wednesday’s August 19th shooting in Jackson County.
