Authorities have been unable to identify a man who died amid a shootout with southern Oregon law enforcement officers because his body was badly burned in an ensuing car fire, according to a report.
KVAL, a Eugene television station, reports that the Douglas County coroner thinks the man died before the car burned. A grand jury ruled this week that authorities were justified in engaging in the March 9 shootout.
The suspect’s car can be seen smoking in video footage of the shootout, which came after authorities responded to a call about a possible stolen vehicle and gave chase.
WARNING: GRAPHIC LANGUAGE
KVAL reports a passenger was in the car at the beginning of the chase but that the passenger got out of the car at one point.
The pursuit ended in a field, and police said the driver “opened fire on authorities.”
Police reported feeling cornered after being shot at multiple times, according to KVAL. The news station reports an officer went for a straight shot and reported the suspect’s car caught fire shortly thereafter.
Multiple law enforcement officers fired their weapons in the return volley of gunfire, Roseburg police said.
None of the law enforcement officers who responded were injured.
-- Jim Ryan; jryan@oregonian.com; 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015
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