Roseburg, Ore. – The Oregon State Police (under Senate Bill 111) was given the task of investigating the Officer Involved shooting at Umpqua Community College.
The Oregon State Police concluded the investigation and presented the information to Douglas County District Attorney’s Office. The following information was provided by DA Rick Wesenberg:
“I have reviewed the facts of the case. I have determined the deadly physical force used by the officers against the shooter was justified.”
Here are details from the DA:
At 10:38 AM Douglas County Emergency Communication received the first 911 call that an active shooter was at UCC.
From witness statements and 911 calls, moments before, the shooter had entered the classroom and began shooting students.
Detective Sergeant Joe Kaney and Detective Todd Spingath from Roseburg Police Department heard the dispatched call and responded from approximately 5 miles away.
Two Troopers from the Roseburg OSP office also responded and all four officers arrived on the campus at 10:44 AM. Upon the arrival of the police officers they heard a volley of shots. The police officers witnessed the shooter in the doorway.
Sergeant Kaney and Detective Spingath were in plain clothes they were not wearing their bullet proof vests as they exited their vehicle. The police officers ran towards the sound of gunfire and attempted to gain a better vantage point of the shooter. Sergeant Kaney and Detective Spingath knew there were at least 35 students in one of the classrooms and knew if they shot they risked the chance of shooting innocent people.
Sergeant Kaney and Detective Spingath observed the shooter in the door frame of the entrance to Snyder Hall and they witnessed the muzzle flash. The shooter shot several round towards Sergeant Kaney and Detective Spingath.
Seconds later both Sergeant Kaney and Detective Spingath felt they had a good target. They fired a total of three rounds at the shooter. Two rounds went into the entrance wall of Snyder Hall near where the shooter was standing and one round struck the shooter on the right side.
Once the shooter was wounded, he entered the classroom again, went to the front of the classroom, and shot and killed himself.
“I want everyone to know the selfless acts these officers made in responding to the scene. The officers had little regard for their personal safety and saved many people that day with their heroic acts.
These men saved lives this day.”
While many people are calling them heroes, the Roseburg Police Chief Jim Burge told the media today they don’t want the focus on them and don’t want to be called heroes and want to get back into their daily routine.
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