W. 2nd and Madison Street Officer-involved Shooting Investigation
At 10:24 a.m. today, November 30, Central Lane Communications Center 911 received a call of a domestic violence incident and a restraining order violation. The call details included information the male suspect had left and was armed with a knife.
Officers were dispatched to locate the suspect in relation to the restraining order violation. Two officers spotted the suspect, who was running down an alley. Subsequently there was a confrontation during which the suspect was shot. As soon as the scene was secure, officers immediately began administering emergency medical aid, and the suspect was taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.
While the investigation is ongoing, there is bodyworn camera video, in-car video, and third-party video from an adjacent building with information that suggests the suspect, armed with a knife, had been advancing on the officers prior to the shooting.
Lane County’s Interagency Deadly Force Investigation Team was called out and is in charge of investigating the incident.
Until the conclusion of the IDFIT investigation and review of findings by the Lane County District Attorney’s Office, EPD will be referring further media questions to the DA’s Office.
Background IDFIT
The use of deadly physical force by law enforcement personnel is a matter of critical concern both to the public and to the law enforcement community. The Lane County Deadly Force Plan provides “a framework for a consistent response to an officer’s use of deadly physical force that treats the law enforcement officer fairly, and promotes public confidence in the criminal justice system.”
In Oregon, deadly use of force incidents are conducted by investigators who are independent of the involved agency. This is provided for under Senate Bill 111, which was passed by the 2007 Oregon Legislature. Lane County adopted guidelines under this law in 2008, as did the City of Eugene. Since that time, each and every deadly use of force with Eugene Police Department involvement has been handled by representatives of other law enforcement agencies under IDFIT and referred to the Lane County District Attorney’s Office. This guarantees a separation from the involved agency and greater transparency. The Lane County District Attorney receives and reviews the IDFIT’s findings to determine if there were any crimes committed during the incident and response.