PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — New details were released Monday afternoon about the Bend Safeway shooting that left a customer and a Safeway employee dead, along with the gunman, on Sunday evening.
Investigators also released information regarding the gunman, how he approached the scene and what authorities found after his death, which was the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The customer and employee who died in the gunfire were identified as 84-year-old Glenn Edward Bennett and 66-year-old Donald Ray Surrett Jr., respectively. Surrett tried to disarm the shooter, who was carrying an AR-15-style rifle, in the grocery’s produce section, investigators said.
The gunman, who was named only once by police in Monday’s press conference, was identified by authorities as 20-year-old Ethan Miller.
Bennett was shot and killed just inside of the Safeway near the entrance, while Surret was killed in the grocery store’s produce section.
Authorities say the first 9-1-1 calls came in at 7:04 p.m. Sunday when the shooting started in the shopping center’s parking lot; the gunman was found deceased in the produce section at 7:08 p.m.
Investigators found additional ammunition, Molotov cocktails and sawed-off shotguns in the gunman’s vehicle and apartment, which was near the Safeway, according to Bend authorities.
How the shooter accessed firearms is still undetermined, authorities said, adding that Bend investigators are partnering with federal agents at ATF.
It’s unclear how many people were in the Safeway at the time of the shooting and in the general shopping complex.
Heather Thompson told Central Oregon Daily she heard about five to eight shots and thought it was backfire.
“And then less than a minute later there were 10-20 shots and then another 10-20 shots. I told my dad to get away from the window and there were people running out of Safeway,” she said. The police arrived “in a matter of, like, 5 seconds.”
“I am asking all Oregonians to keep the victims of last night’s shooting in Bend and their families in your thoughts and in your hearts today,” Oregon Gov. Kate Brown said in a statement on Monday morning.
Safeway also made a statement about the shooting.
“We are deeply saddened by the senseless violence at our Safeway store on Highway 20 in Bend, Oregon, including the loss of a customer and a valued member of our team. Our thoughts and actions now are directed toward supporting our associates, customers, and the community affected by this tragedy. We thank the officers at the Bend Police Department for their response and will continue to support the department’s investigation over the coming days,” the statement said.
Other Oregon lawmakers also released statements on Monday, calling for action in ending gun violence, specifically mass shootings.