Vehicle-pedestrian crash near Scio leads to gunfire, standoff; suspect shot, killed after pointing gun at SWAT team

SCIO, Ore. (KTVZ) – The suspect in a vehicle-pedestrian crash in rural Linn County fired a gun after Oregon State Police found him early Saturday morning, sparking a standoff that ended when he pointed the gun at an approaching SWAT team and was shot and killed, Oregon State Police said.

Linn County deputies responded around 12:42 a.m. to the report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle near Scio, troopers said. Officers located the suspect’s vehicle on Shimanek Bridge Drive, off Richardson Gap Road, and found that he was armed and in the driver’s seat.

The Linn County Sheriff’s Office said, “Despite repeated commands, the suspect refused to comply with officers, and during the standoff, the suspect OSP identified as David Tobias Tyler, 46, of Scio, discharged his firearm.

 As a result, the Linn County Regional SWAT Team and Crisis Negotiation Team were deployed to the scene.

“Investigators engaged with the suspect by phone in an attempt to peacefully resolve the situation” the sheriff’s office said.

During the standoff, around 3:30 a.m., the SEAT Team approached Tyler, who pointed a gun at officers and was shot, OSP said. He died at the scene.

OSP identified the SWAT Team member who fatally shot Tyler as Benton County sheriff’s Sergeant Daniel Ball, who has been with the agency for six years. No officers were injured in the incident, while the pedestrian was treated at the hospital for minor injuries and released, troopers said.

The Linn County Regional SWAT Team is a multi-agency unit consisting of personnel from the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, Benton County Sheriff’s Office, Albany Police Department and Sweet Home Police Department. 

Oregon State Police said they will be conducting the primary investigation in conjunction with the Linn County District Attorney’s Office.