From the Lincoln City Police Department:
On Wednesday, September 4th, 2024, at approximately 1130 hours Lincoln City Police Officers contacted two vehicles, including a retired yellow school bus that had been retrofitted as a motor home, regarding illegal parking blocking a fire hydrant in the area of NW Oar Place near NW 22nd Street in Lincoln City.
During the investigation, a subject in the bus fired at least three gunshots from inside the bus at Lincoln City Police Officers. Officers did not return fire into the bus. The male then fled the scene in the bus, eventually stopping in the parking lot of the Sea Gypsy Motel.
Officers secured the area around the bus and learned from witnesses that a male subject fled from the bus on foot and ran to the beach prior to officers’ arrival. LCPD requested assistance from area law enforcement agencies and multiple agencies responded, including Oregon State Police, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Newport Police, and Grand Ronde Tribal Police. LCPD K9 Nix and the Oregon State Police K9 team conducted a search of the area. Attempts to communicate with anyone who may still have been in the bus were unsuccessful, and Lincoln County SERT had to port several of the bus’s windows in order to ensure the bus was unoccupied.
An OSP SWAT-K9 tracked the suspect to a residence at 1905 NW Jetty Avenue. Further information was developed that led investigators to believe the suspect, identified as 38-year-old Walter O. Anderson of Nevada, was inside the residence. Because of the possible dangers involved, the OSP SWAT team was requested and responded to the scene. Over the course of several hours, OSP SWAT negotiators made numerous attempts to communicate with the suspect, as well as issuing verbal commands through the public address system, in an attempt to resolve the situation peacefully and without injury. Unfortunately, the attempts to negotiate with the suspect to surrender peacefully were unsuccessful, and he began firing out through the windows of the residence. A fire was started inside the residence, and the suspect exited the residence with a firearm. SWAT issued commands for the suspect to drop his weapon, but he refused and was ultimately shot. SWAT personnel attempted to render medical aid, but he was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The investigation into this incident at the residence is being conducted by members of the Lincoln County Major Crime Team with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office assuming the lead investigator role. Assisting in the investigations are Detectives from the Lincoln City Police Department, Newport Police Department, the Oregon State Police Criminal Investigation Team, and the Lincoln County District Attorney’s Office.
The Lincoln City Police Department acknowledges that these events caused a significant disruption to area businesses, community members, and visiting citizens, and we would like to express our gratitude to everyone for their patience and understanding while these events unfolded. In addition, we would like to thank the citizens who provided the responding Officers with tips and information that helped us attempt to locate the suspect. Lastly, we express our appreciation to the Oregon State Police, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Newport Police Department, Grand Ronde Tribal Police, Lincoln County District Attorney’s Office, and North Lincoln Fire & Rescue for their quick response and all of their assistance with this incident.
From Oregon State Police
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Lincoln County, Ore. 5 Sept. 24 – On Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, just after midnight, Oregon State Police SWAT responded to a Lincoln City residence to assist the Lincoln City Police Department with a barricaded suspect. Responding officers made multiple attempts to negotiate with the suspect who fired at police and refused to comply with commands. The suspect was ultimately shot by responding police and died at the scene.
On Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, at approximately 12:42 p.m., the Lincoln City Police Department requested assistance from local law enforcement agencies regarding an incident involving a suspect shooting at police officers while investigating a parking violation. The suspect fled the scene in a vehicle and later on foot.
Oregon State Police (OSP) responded and deployed a SWAT K-9 unit. The K-9 tracked the suspect to a residence at 1905 NW Jetty Ave. in Lincoln City. Occupants exited the residence and knew the suspect but denied seeing him that day. It was later confirmed the male suspect was within the residence and a search warrant was granted.
OSP SWAT personnel were activated and responded to the scene. Negotiators made numerous attempts at communicating with the suspect as well as issuing verbal commands through a public address system. The suspect made numerous threatening statements and at 2:45 a.m. the suspect began to shoot through windows from within the residence. For unknown reasons, a fire started within the residence. As the fire spread the suspect exited an upstairs window to the roof carrying a rifle. He refused commands to drop the rifle. Shots were fired and the suspect fell from the roof to the ground below.
OSP SWAT personnel secured the suspect’s firearm and pulled him away from the burning residence to render medical aid. He was pronounced deceased by medical personnel at the scene.
Four OSP SWAT members were determined to have fired rounds during the incident.
The Lincoln County Major Crimes Team was activated in accordance with the Lincoln County Deadly Force Plan. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office is assuming the lead investigator role and is being assisted by detectives from the Lincoln City Police Department, Newport Police Department, and Oregon State Police Criminal Investigations Division.
Good job. Thank you for everyone that puts their lives at stake to protect the community and visitors.