PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — “We’ve exchanged gunfire.”
Audio obtained by KOIN 6 News from Broadcastify detailed the tense moments in the woods near Hagg Lake after two deputies were shot by a gunman on the run late Thursday afternoon, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities say all 3 have been taken to local hospitals. One deputy has serious but non-life-threatening injuries, according to authorities, while the other deputy has non-life-threatening injuries. The accused gunman’s condition is unclear.
In the Broadcastify recordings, Washington County deputies frantically relayed information amid a search for a suspect who had allegedly stolen guns from a nearby home hours earlier.
Deputy #1: “Last seen heading towards the residence in the brush.”
Deputy #1: “I got an update on injuries.”
Deputy #1: “Alrighty, we’ve exchanged gunfire. Suspect hit us. We have two officers down … I believe we hit [the suspect], somewhere in the forest.”
Deputy #1: “We need immediate medical evac … We dropped smoke. If they come towards the smoke, they will be covered.”
Deputy #1: “This is going to be a Life Flight deal. If we can get a Life Flight, that would be great.”
Deputy #1: “We just need to get our one critical out.”
Deputy #1: “We need medical units, that is our number one priority. If they come right to us from the house, we’ve got them covered.”
Dispatch: “Be advised that we have two Life Flight units en route.”
Deputy #2: “Is the target address where the casualty is?”
Deputy #1: “No. We are deep in the forest. (Unintelligible) No vehicles can get to us.”
Deputy #1: “Suspect is still unaccounted for. I believe we have him down, but we do not have eyes on him.”
Deputy #2: “I requested Portland as well.”
Deputy #1: “We’re both in a little draw (unintelligible) … No vehicle access. I could use more people.”
Deputy #1: “Both officers will go to OHSU by Lifeflight.”
Deputy #1: “Possible moaning about 25 yards into the brush line from where we are at. We do not have him contained.”
Deputy #1: “Containment units that are yelling in the forest, you are really confusing us.”
Deputy #1: “To any containment units in the forest – stop yelling.”
Deputy #1: “I believe we have the suspect contained. We just can’t see him.”
Deputy #1: “We can see his hands. He is complying. We are going to move to him.”
Deputy #1: “He’s been shot in the lower back. The spine.”