Mother of Madras man who died in officer-involved shooting speaks out

(Update: Adding video, comments from mother of victim)

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Social media was abuzz with flyers for a scheduled protest Wednesday afternoon in front of Madras City Hall in honor of Allan Warner Jr. who died late last week during an officer-involved shooting.

The flyer for the "peaceful protest,: entitled "Justice for AJ: His Life Mattered," said the event was being held "to show support for A.J., his friends and family."

It said the family would be speaking, as well as witnesses, to both "process the shooting" and "demand justice." Participants were encouraged to wear red clothing.

"Allan Dale Warner Jr's life mattered. That's what we're focusing on and that's what we want answers for," said Warner's mother at Wednesday's vigil. "I don't want anybody to be angry, because he was not that type of person. He wasn't an angry person. "

Chants like "native lives matter" and "Justice for AJ" can be heard as dozens wore red in his honor.

"The loss itself is hard, but this journey, especially the journey for justice, is just starting and it's hard. It's not even close to being over," said another speaker at the event.

Jefferson County Acting District Attorney Steven Leriche shared in a press release Friday, "On February 20, 2025, at approximately 5:27 PM the Oregon State Police, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and Madras Police Department responded to multiple reports of a fight in progress on Highway 97 in the south portion of Madras, Oregon.

"Law enforcement encountered Allan Dale Warner, Jr., age 26 years. It appears Mr. Warner died after police used deadly force upon him at approximately 5:55 PM," Leriche wrote.

As protocol, an outside organization will now lead the investigation, which will be handled by Bend police before handing over the case to the district attorney.