A man shot in the chest by a Veterans Affairs Police officer in southern Oregon last Thursday, was indicted on multiple charges yesterday.
According to a press release from the Jackson County District Attorney, the cop, who is still unnamed pending an internal VA investigation, was found justified in shooting to kill by the same grand jury. 34-year-old Gilbert Matthew Negrete was shot at the VA facility in White City, north of Medford, after reportedly pulling a knife on officers. The officers were responding to reports that Negrete was behaving "paranoid and generally incoherent," according to the Jackson County Sheriff.
The DA said that Negrete was charged with Attempted Assault in the first degree, unlawful use of a weapon, two counts of menacing, and disorderly conduct in the second degree. He is being held on t$250,000 bail, and his court date has yet to be scheduled.
Though the grand jury transcript will not be released until the criminal proceedings are over, the DA gave reasons for the finding that the shooting was justified. Oregon law provides that an officer is allowed to use deadly force when they feel that the subject may use deadly force against them or another person, or when they think the subject is about to commit a felony involving the threat of physical force.
KBOO reached out to the Oregon office of the Veteran's Affairs Police, for further information about their investigation and the involved officer. No reponse has been received as of airtime on Friday 2/2/2018.
--Sam Bouman, KBOO
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