Police Say Driving Rampage Ends in Fatal Shots

Police say a man shot at police after crashing into cars and shooting an innocent bystander.

Salem-News.com

(HILLSBORO, Ore.) - Hillsboro Police say a report of a man shooting a gun out of his vehicle after ramming into several other vehicles Saturday, ultimately led to a series of incidents that left one bystander and the suspect, mortal injured from gunshot wounds.

The bystander is identified as 56-year old Danny K. Le Gore of Hillsboro. Investigators say it appears Mr. Le Gore had no connection to the suspect in this case, and the death appears to be a random act of extreme violence.

The call came in Saturday at 1:24 p.m. and was reported in the area of SE Baseline Street and SE 10th Avenue in Hillsboro, according to Sgt. Bob Ray with the Washington Co. Sheriff's Office, the agency investigating the police involved shooting.

"A Hillsboro Police Officer saw the incident and attempted to apprehend the suspect. The suspect drove his 1997 Honda Civic at a high rate of speed westbound on SE Baseline Street leaving the city of Hillsboro heading toward the city of Cornelius."

Ray says it was reported that the suspect shot at least once from his vehicle at the pursuing officer. The suspect was later identified as 28-year-old Shawn Schumacher from Hillsboro.

"Washington County Sheriffs Deputies and Cornelius Police officers responded to assist the Hillsboro officer as she attempted to stop Mr. Schumacher before he hurt anyone else. It was reported that Mr. Schumacher was driving recklessly and passing vehicles dangerously with no regard for the safety of others as he entered the city of Cornelius."

Cornelius Police Officers and a Sheriffs deputy were beginning to set up spike strips to flatten the tires of Mr. Schumacher's vehicle in the area of North Adair Street at North 13th Avenue, Ray said. Unfortunately, there was not enough time to set up the spike strips and deploy them safely.

"Mr. Schumacher was driving very fast through Cornelius and collided with a Ford van while attempting to pass on the right in heavy traffic. The impact with the van caused extensive damage to Mr. Schumacher's vehicle, rendering it immobile. It was reported he was slumped over the steering wheel after the crash."

But it was an apparent bluff, according to Ray.

"A Sheriff's Deputy and two Cornelius officers approached Mr. Schumacher's crashed vehicle. As they did, Mr. Schumacher emerged with a handgun in each hand and started shooting at them. Mr. Schumacher shot at least one bullet into a patrol car."

Ray says the deputy and officers returned fire in an attempt to stop Schumacher from harming the officers or anyone else.

"Mr. Schumacher was struck with more than one bullet and was pronounced deceased at the scene. The deputy and police officers were not harmed during this incident," Ray said.

Multiple Washington County Deputies, Cornelius, Forest Grove, and Hillsboro Police Officers, along with the Washington County Major Crimes Team, the Crash Analysis Reconstruction Team Crash Analysis Reconstruction, and the Forensic Science Section responded to investigate the incident.

Ray says the Westside Interagency Narcotics Team searched Mr. Schumacher's residence in the 1000 block of SE Nazomi Avenue in Hillsboro.

"They found evidence of a Mescaline lab. Mescaline is a hallucinogen commonly obtained from the small, spineless cactus Peyote (Lophophora-williamsi). It is not know if Mr. Schumacher was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the incident. The Medical Examiner's office will conduct a toxicology exam to determine if he was under the influence of any drugs."

He says the deputy and officers were placed on paid administrative leave until the incident is reviewed by the District Attorney which is standard procedure in officer involved shootings.

"Their names are not being released at this time. The investigation is ongoing and we have no further information at this time."

No officers were injured in the incident.