Double Murder Suspect in Custody

The fatal shootings happened in Jefferson County Friday night.

20-year old Mitchell Julio Morris has been arrested for the double homicide. Photo: OSP

(JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ore.) - Two people were killed by gunshot Friday night, February 26. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office received the report of a shooting at about 6:49 p.m. that had just occurred on Sand Ridge Road in Crooked River Ranch.

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office along with the Oregon State Police responded to the scene and found two adults deceased inside the residence.

A person in the area who had heard the gunshots witnessed a vehicle leaving the area. Law enforcement conducted an extensive search of the area as well as throughout central Oregon and expanding into the Willamette Valley area.

The suspect in the shooting is 20-year old Mitchell Julio Morris, of Crooked River Ranch. He is a white male and described as five foot three, 150 pounds, and has black hair.

Morris is from the Polk County area and it was possible that he might have traveled there after the shooting. He was considered armed and dangerous.

On Saturday, February 27, at about 11:20 a.m. the Chevrolet S-10 police were searching for was spotted by a Salem Police Officer near downtown Salem.

The officer requested backup and followed the vehicle to a parking lot in 500 Block of Wallace Road in West Salem. Salem Police subsequently detained suspect Mitchell Julio Morris without incident. Another male in the vehicle was not arrested and is cooperating with the investigators.

The victims from Friday night's homicide have been identified as 18-year old Bailee Ray Southwick, and 21-year old Mackenzie Lyman, both of whom resided at the location of the shooting. Police have confirmed that Morris was also residing at that location.

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office and the Oregon State Police are requesting the public's assistance with any information on Morris's whereabouts from the evening of February 26th to the time of his arrest on February 27th (in Salem). Anyone with information is asked to call the Oregon State Police at 503-375-3555.