Federal Mail Carrier Shot by Oregon Man in Bizarre and Violent Christmas Encounter

TIGARD, Ore. — Kevin Eugene Irvine (34) was yesterday sentenced to federal prison for 17 years and one month after he was found guilty of shooting an Oregon postal delivery worker on Christmas Eve in 2022.

Irvine, of Tigard, was found guilty of aggravated assault on a federal employee with a firearm, attempted murder of a federal employee, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. He was also sentenced to five years of supervised release.

The incident began to unfold on Christmas Eve 2022 in the Milwaukee neighborhood. According to court documents, a letter carrier mistook a gesture made by Irvine, who was driving a white van, as a wave, and he returned the greeting.

Shortly afterwards, the postal worker again saw the white van on an adjacent street. The driver again made eye contact with the letter carrier and drove past before stopping the van a few houses down the street.

The Driver Climbed Out of the Van and Fired Three Shots at the Letter Carrier

Irvine climbed out of the van and fired three rounds at the postal worker from a kneeling position. The letter carrier ran for cover but was struck one, after which Irvine picked up the three shell casings before driving away from the scene.

Six days later, officers saw the van in Lake Oswego. They stopped the vehicle and arrested Irvine. After obtaining a warrant, the officers searched the van and discovered three rifles, ammunition, spent casings, ballistic gear, and shooting targets.

The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, assisted by the Milwaukie and Lake Oswego Police Departments. The prosecutors were Gary Y. Sussman and Eliza Carmen Rodriguez, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.