Two deputies fired four shots in fatal CJ confrontation
Final reports on situation involving man who pointed gun at officers anticipated before long
From our weekly issue dated November 21, 2007
An autopsy at the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office in Central Point confirmed that a rural Cave Junction resident was struck twice with bullets fired by sheriff’s deputies in an armed confrontation, said Oregon State Police.
It added that the bullets entered his body through the left arm area.
Dead after he pointed a handgun at one of four deputies is 66-year-old Paul Harris Chesser, of 28351 Redwood Hwy., 2 miles south of Downtown Cave Junction.
The investigation into the fatal shooting Saturday, Nov. 10 involving Josephine County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies is continuing, OSP said. Per agreed-upon protocols, OSP is leading the investigation with assistance of JCSO, Grants Pass Dept. of Public Safety, and Josephine County District Attorney’s Office.
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OSP released the names of the four deputies at the scene. They responded to the home following a 2:03 a.m. 911 call from the residence reporting that a man known to the caller had a gun and fired shots, threatening others:
Patrol Cpl. Edythe Deubert, 38, who has been with JCSO more than eight years.
Patrol Cpl. Ray Webb, 45, also with JCSO for more than eight years.
Patrol Deputy John Auborn, 38, a JCSO officer nearly seven years.
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Patrol Deputy Shawn Shaw, 36, a JCSO veteran of more than10 years.
It’s believed that Webb and Deubert fired a total of four shots, said Josephine County D.A. Stephen Campbell.
OSP said that when the JCSO officers arrived at the home, next to J’s Feed & Tack, they were confronted by Chesser. He was ordered numerous times to put down his weapon, but pointed it several times at deputies, said OSP.
Gunfire then was exchanged, although who fired first still is being investigated, said OSP. Chesser was pronounced dead at the scene.
Campbell said that most of the investigation is complete. It will take a few weeks, he indicated, for the reports to be written. Such investigations by district attorneys are standard in cases of officer-involved shootings. The intent is to ascertain if actions by officers using deadly force were under the standards of Oregon state law.
The incident, according to unofficial sources, followed a party at a Cave Junction bar that shifted to the residence.
