Man With Shotgun Shot by Eugene Police, State Investigators Reviewing the Incident

EUGENE, Ore. — The Lane County Interagency Deadly Force Investigation Team (IDFIT) is investigating an incident in which Eugene police officers were involved in a shooting in the 1400 block of Railroad Boulevard yesterday.

Callers to 911 at 12.32 p.m. reported that a man armed with a shotgun was in the area, and, at 12,50 p.m., there was a report that the suspect was down after shots were fired.

The police officers provided emergency medical aid and, once the scene was safe, the Eugene Springfield Fire Department arrived on the scene.

The suspect is a 40-year-old man. He was transported to a local hospital, where he is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

The police took possession of a shotgun at the scene.

According to a statement by the Eugene Police Department, it is the responsibility of the IDFIT to immediately launch an investigation in cases involving deadly force.

The Deadly Force Plan provides a framework for a consistent response to the use of deadly physical force by a policeman. The framework also “treats the law enforcement officer fairly, and promotes public confidence in the criminal justice system.”

The Law Dictates That All Deadly Force Incident Incidents are Conducted by Independent Investigators

Oregon law dictates that all deadly force incidents are conducted by investigators independent of the agency involved, guaranteeing greater transparency.

Senate Bill 111 became law in 2007, and the following year, Lane County and the City of Eugene adopted its guidelines.

Once the IDFIT finalizes its findings, the matter is referred to the Lane County District Attorney to determine if a crime has been committed.