A man arrested after allegedly firing at a crew cutting trees near Oregon City on Saturday fired more than 200 rounds, investigators now believe.
That includes rounds he fired at the arborists as well as at police drones trying to determine his location, officials said.
Erik Gordon Shunn, 53, was arraigned Monday on charges including second-degree attempted murder, attempted first-degree assault, reckless endangerment, unlawful use of a weapon and menacing for the incident.
Officials say that tree company employees were cutting down trees along the side of the road near South Rocky Bluff Lane at about 2:30 p.m. when Shunn began firing at them — but didn’t hit anyone.
Sheriff’s deputies got calls from people in the area about hearing gunshots and scrambled a SWAT team, drones and crisis negotiators to the scene, officials said. As deputies evacuated people from the neighborhood, Shunn allegedly used a tractor to plow down trees in an apparent attempt to build a makeshift barricade, officials said.
Despite the makeshift barricade, a SWAT vehicle drove into Shunn’s tractor, pinning it against his house, video shows. The team decided that was the best window of opportunity because Shunn had left his rifle behind when he got on the tractor, police said.
Video also shows Shunn firing at the police drone, though he does not appear to hit it.
The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office arrested Shunn just before 3:45 p.m.
He remains in custody without bail.
