Shooting deemed ‘justified’

Sam Mullane

YACHATS - Lane County District Attorney Alex Gardner announced on June 29 that an investigation had determined Oregon State Police troopers were justified in shooting Samuel Mullane, 18, on May 31 at a residence on Tenmile Creek Road south of Yachats.

An Oregon State Police SWAT team was watching the house as part of an investigation by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office into an assault that occurred on May 10 in Yachats.

Sheriff’s deputies had learned that two men and a third person of interest were at a residence in the area of milepost 7 on Tenmile Creek Road and obtained a search warrant for the home. As law enforcement prepared to serve that search warrant, Mullane came out of the house with a flashlight and a long rifle. Chief Deputy District Attorney Patty Perlow said that when Mullane came out of the house, he began sweeping the flashlight around the property.

For the complete article see the 07-11-2012 issue.

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