OSP says trooper fatally shot driver during Eugene traffic stop who got a gun, refused commands

EUGENE, Ore. (KTVZ) -- An Oregon State Police traffic stop in Eugene ended in a fatal officer-involved shooting late Tuesday afternoon, the agency said.

Around 4:25 p.m., an OSP trooper conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of River Avenue and State Route 569 (Beltline Highway) in Eugene. During the encounter, OSP said the driver got out and tried to get a gun from the passenger side of the vehicle. A less lethal force option (Taser) was deployed but was not successful.

Troopers said the suspect did not comply with verbal commands and was able to obtain the firearm, resulting in the trooper shooting the subject with his department-issued firearm. Emergency medical aid was immediately provided and medical personnel from Eugene-Springfield Fire Department responded; however, the subject was declared deceased at the scene.

The trooper was not injured during the incident, OSP said, and has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation by the Lane County Inter-Agency Deadly Force Investigation Team (IDFIT).

Pursuant to the Lane County District Attorney’s Office Deadly Force Plan under Senate Bill 111 of the 2007 Oregon Legislative Session, IDFIT is conducting the investigation with the Lane County Sheriff’s Office assuming the primary role for this officer-involved shooting investigation.  IDFIT is comprised of investigators from the Oregon State Police, Lane County Sheriff’s Office, Eugene Police Department, Springfield Police Department, Cottage Grove Police Department, and Florence Police Department.  Any further information will be released by the Lane County District Attorney’s Office.