On Wednesday, March 24th, the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a fully involved vehicle fire just before 1:00pm, in a remote wooded area off McMullen Creek Road approximately 7 miles from Lake Selmac. Illinois Valley Fire personnel, Josephine County Sheriff Deputies and Oregon State Police Troopers responded to the scene. Due to poor road conditions, fire personnel could not get to the vehicle.
As the fire began to extinguish itself, two bodies were discovered in the vehicle. As of the time of this press release, the identities of the victims are unknown. This incident is being treated as a homicide investigation. The victims have been transported to the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office.
As a result, the Josephine County Major Crimes Team consisting of law enforcement personnel from the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety, Oregon State Police, Josephine County Sheriff’s Office and the Josephine County District Attorney’s Office were summoned.
During the course of this investigation, March 25th, at 12:06am, a second separate incident took place. As law enforcement personnel from the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Police were at a staging area of the burnt vehicle, two vehicles drove up. While attempting to contact the first vehicle, an Officer Involved Shooting took place. A Deputy from the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office discharged their firearm at the vehicle. The first vehicle fled the scene and continues to be at large at this time.
With both members from the Oregon State Police and Josephine County Sheriff’s Office present at the Officer Involved Shooting, a mutual aid request was made to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office to take lead in the investigation which they are currently conducting.
The Deputy involved in the Officer Involved Shooting is currently on paid administrative leave per Sheriff’s Office policy.
