Officer Involved Shooting

Medford Police

On Wednesday, August 11, 2021, at about 6:50 a.m., law enforcement in Jackson County was advised to be on the lookout for a vehicle that was stolen during an armed carjacking in Canyonville, Ore. During that incident it was reported the suspect was armed with a black revolver.

At 7:07 a.m., officers from the Central Point Police Department (CPPD) located the vehicle traveling south bound on I-5 near mile marker 35. A traffic stop was attempted on the vehicle and the suspect began driving at a high rate of speed in attempts to elude the officers. As the incident continued through numerous jurisdictions in Jackson County, officers from the Medford Police Department (MPD), Oregon State Police (OSP), CPPD, Phoenix Police Department, and Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies made multiple attempts to get the suspect to pull over, to include several attempts to use spike strips. 

Due to the severity of the incident in Canyonville and the imminent risk to the public, the pursuit continued, and at 7:38 a.m., a JCSO deputy used the Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT) maneuver to stop the suspect near the intersection of Dakota and S. Columbus Avenues in Medford. At 7:39 a.m., deputies and officers on scene reported shots fired. Once the suspect was detained, law enforcement performed life saving measures until relieved by the Medford Fire Department who continued to render aid. The suspect was transported to a local hospital for further treatment and is currently in stable condition. 

Based on the initial investigation we believe the suspect, Aurelio Escobar, 25, fired a revolver, which was recovered by investigators at the scene, and JCSO deputies and an MPD officer returned fire in response. Escobar was struck during the gunfire. No officers or deputies were struck.  

Escobar is a suspect in a missing person case and wanted in conjunction with several other crimes in Yakima, Washington, to include first-degree robbery, first-degree assault, first-degree unlawful weapon possession, and drive-by shooting. He is also the suspect in several armed car-jackings in Oregon and Washington.

The incident is currently being investigated by the Jackson County Major Assault and Death Investigation Unit (MADIU). OSP is the lead agency, and is being assisted by the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office. 

The officer and deputies involved in the incident have been placed on administrative leave, which is standard protocol in Jackson County. Once the investigation is completed, the information will be forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office for review, which is also standard protocol. The names of the officer and deputies involved will not be released until the Grand Jury has reviewed the matter.