JOSEPHINE COUNTY, Oregon -- A state police trooper was justified in using deadly force when he shot and killed a man suspected in a previous shooting, according to the Josephine County District Attorney's Office.
State trooper Thomas Erhard shot and killed Jacy McManus on April 24 at the Wolf Creek General Store, according to the district attorney's office. Prosecutors say McManus ran from troopers, resisted arrest, charged Erhard and brandished a tool with a three-inch blade before Erhard fired twice, killing him.
McManus had a felony warrant for his arrest, and the Oregon State Police previously said in an officer safety notice that he was to be considered armed and dangerous, the district attorney's office said in a news release.
Erhard struggled to arrest McManus after chasing him down inside the store and forcing him to the floor, according to the district attorney's office. Prosecutors said Erhard got up and pulled his Taser, telling McManus to stop resisting arrest and that he would be shot with the stun gun if he didn't comply.
Prosecutors said McManus charged the trooper, who shot him with the stun gun, which didn't have any effect because McManus was wearing layers of clothing. McManus also punched at Erhard, and Erhard again forced him to the floor, according to prosecutors. McManus tried to stand, the district's attorney's office said, and Erhard sprayed him with pepper spray.
McManus began reaching into his pockets, prosecutors said, and Erhard pulled his gun. He repeatedly ordered McManus not to reach for anything, according to prosecutors, and told him to show his hands.
McManus pulled a tire punch tool with a three-inch blade and pointed tip from his pocket, prosecutors said.
"The situation was tense and rapidly evolving," the district attorney's office said.
Prosecutors said Erhard fired while McManus tried to get off the floor with the tool in his hand. A shot hit one of McManus' arms and went into his torso, prosecutors said, and the other hit his clothes. Erhard wasn't hurt, according to the district attorney's office.
Erhard and another trooper went to the store on the night of April 24 after receiving a pair of calls saying McManus was inside, prosecutors said. The other trooper ran out of the store and around back when Erhard initially chased McManus because she expected McManus would try to use a rear exit, according to prosecutors.
McManus was suspected of attempted murder, first-degree assault and felon in possession of a firearm in an April 6 shooting of a Wolf Creek man, according to prosecutors.
Copyright 2017 The Oregonian (Portland, Ore.)Tribune News Service
