On Saturday, Eugene Police Detectives continued their investigation into yesterday’s shooting and have determined 33-year-old John Ramsey TAINTON-PLATTS, a professional photographer, drove to the 2100 block of McLean Boulevard to perform what he believed would be a photography shoot of a female. The meeting was arranged on Tuesday, August 25, 2015, via electronic messaging.
Tainton-Platts was dating a woman whose ex-husband, 48-year-old Nicholas HAZEL, resided at 2132 McLean Boulevard.
Electronic messaging between Tainton-Platts and his girlfriend indicated they were concerned about Tainton-Platts going to that area but the address in the appointment message indicated it would be an address other than that of Hazel.
The exact sequence of events that occurred when Tainton-Platts arrived is uncertain but his vehicle was parked at the top of the driveway leading to 2130, 2132, as well as other adjacent residences.
When officers arrived to investigate the report of shots fired and a male laying on the ground, they found Tainton-Platts mortally wounded on the ground directly in front of 2132 McLean Boulevard. Offices evacuated him to a safe area where they and medical personnel attempted to save him.
Immediately following the shooting, Hazel sent an electronic message to his estranged wife stating he had just murdered her boyfriend, Tainton-Platts. Hazel’s message also stated that he (Hazel) was next.
Eugene Police used a robot to enter and search the residence. Hazel was found in the garage and SWAT personnel subsequently confirmed he was deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. ###