An Oregon man accused of unleashing a barrage of more than 200 rounds at workers and police drones was finally subdued when a SWAT team used an armored vehicle to crush him against his own home, authorities said.
Footage released by law enforcement shows the dramatic takedown of 53-year-old Erik Gordon Shunn on Saturday, August 29, according to KTLA. The incident unfolded around 2:30 p.m. in rural Oregon City, when neighbors called 911 to report a gunman firing at a crew of tree trimmers working near his property on South Rocky Bluff Lane.
Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene, but Shunn refused to surrender peacefully, instead climbing onto a heavy-duty tractor and going on a destructive rampage. Investigators said he toppled trees in an apparent attempt to build a makeshift barricade to keep officers at bay.
When police deployed a drone to track him from the air, Shunn allegedly turned his weapon skyward and fired at the unmanned aircraft, trying to knock it out of the sky.
Initial reports suggested Shunn had fired about 20 shots at the tree-trimming crew, but investigators later discovered he had actually pumped more than 200 rounds during the confrontation, per KTLA.
The standoff reached a breaking point around 3:45 p.m., when Shunn became separated from his rifle. Seizing the opportunity, an armored SWAT team rammed their vehicle directly into Shunn’s tractor, pinning the heavy machinery against his house and trapping him before he could reach his weapon again.
Remarkably, no one was injured in the ordeal, including Shunn’s elderly mother, who had been trapped inside the residence throughout the intense firefight, according to the report.
Shunn was taken to the Clackamas County Jail, where he is being held without bail. He faces a slew of charges, including second-degree attempted murder, first-degree attempted assault, weapons violations, and menacing.
SWAT Vehicle Likely a Lenco BearCat
The armored vehicle used in the takedown was likely a Lenco BearCat, according to a 2022 procurement notice from Clackamas County. That document indicated the Sheriff’s Office intended to purchase one Lenco BearCat armored vehicle through the HGAC Cooperative Purchasing Agreement.
“This vehicle will be assigned to the Sheriff’s Office SWAT Division and will replace aging vehicles that are currently assigned to the SWAT division,” the notice stated.
Neighbors described the chaos as terrifying, with one resident telling local media that the sound of gunfire was nonstop and that they feared for the safety of the tree trimmers who had been caught in the line of fire.
“It was like a war zone,” one neighbor said, according to the report. “You just hoped everyone would make it out alive.”
Authorities praised the swift action of the SWAT team, noting that their decision to use the armored vehicle likely prevented further escalation and potential casualties.
“This was an extremely volatile situation, and the officers on scene showed tremendous restraint and tactical skill in bringing it to a peaceful resolution,” a sheriff’s office spokesperson said in a statement, as quoted by the report.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and authorities are continuing to piece together the sequence of events leading up to the shooting.
Shunn is expected to appear in court in the coming days, where he will face the charges formally. It remains unclear whether he has obtained legal representation.
This incident highlights the increasingly dangerous situations that law enforcement officers face when responding to active shooter calls, and the growing reliance on specialized equipment like armored vehicles to resolve them safely.
Source: www.dailywire.com — https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-swat-team-uses-armored-vehicle-to-squash-wild-gunman-after-200-shots-fired