CNN
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One of the victims fought to disarm the suspected shooter during Sunday fatal shooting at the Safeway grocery store store in Bend, Oregon, according to police spokeswoman Sheila Miller.
Two people were killed, police said. They were identified as Glenn Edward Bennett, 84, client who was shot in front of in store and safeway employee Donald Ray Surrett Jr., 66 who fought with the shooter in production section, Miller said.
“It’s a safe way employee who enthusiastic with the shooter, meaning he attempted to disarm the shooter and attacked the man, and we believe he prevented further deaths in in addition to prompt police response,” Miller said. “Mr. Surratt acted heroically during this horrific incident.”
Gov. Kate Brown released a statement on Facebook Monday in honor of Surratt.
While we are collecting facts about last night shooting is clear so far more people could have been killed if it weren’t for for heroism of Donald Ray Surratt Jr. who intervened in help stop the shooter, and the officers who came in while the shots were still going on,” Brown said in a statement. “AT face of senseless violence, they acted with selfless courage. Their courage saved lives.”
The shooter, who police identified as 20-year-old Ethan Blair Miller, was found dead on the spot and died of self-inflicted gunshot wound,” a police spokeswoman said.
Police found an AR-15 type rifle and a shotgun close to Miller’s body, according to Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz.
According to Krantz, the shooting took place shortly after 7:00 pm Sunday at a mall. First, the police received reports of a possible more how one shooter, Sheila Miller said, but no proof of a second shooter. There were reports of at least two others people who The injuries were also not life-threatening, she said.
motive remains I don’t know, but the police know of online messages that may be relevant to the case, Sheila Miller said.
“We know that the shooter may have posted information online about his plan. We are investigating this. We don’t have proof of previous threats or prior knowledge of shooter. We got information about the shooter’s letters after the incident place but the shooter doesn’t criminal history in in area” Miller said.
safeway said in a statement in which the company was saddened by the “senseless violence”.
“Our thoughts and actions are now focused on supporting our partners, clients and community suffered from this tragedy. We thank the staff of the Bend Police Department for their response and will continue support investigation department over coming days,” the company said in a statement.
Sunday shooting follows brawl of other grocery store shootings all over the country in in past year and against the backdrop of a general surge in “active shooter incidents,” according to an FBI report.
May 10 people were killed in what the authorities say was racially motivated attack in Buffalo, New York. Among the executed were a hero guard and a beloved teacher. down.
10 more in March people were shot down at the King Soopers grocery store store in Boulder, Colorado. BUT veteran police officer with Seven children was among those killed.
In September last year, a militant shot 15 people. people – including one fatally – at Kroger’s in Collierville, Tennessee. A little people hid in freezers to survive.
Miller said the police received several calls. of shots were fired at about 19:00 in the Forum shopping center in northeast bend.
The assailant broke in from an apartment building behind mall, Miller said. He moved through the parking lot until firing rounds from an AR-15 type rifle in front of the Safeway entrance.
Once inside, he shot and killed the customer – Glenn Edward Bennett – who died when he was taken to the hospital,” Miller said.
The shooter continued to beat way through store before a quarrel with and fatally shot Donald Ray Surratt, Jr., Miller said.
“After our officers responded, they entered the Safeway while the shots were still going on. They are found obvious shooter dead inside Safeway,” Miller said.
AR-15 and shotgun were found near the shooter bodyMiller said. Failed to beat the police fire any shots, she said.
It remains to be seen how the shooter obtained the firearm. because of online wiring, bend the police also contacted the Oregon State Police Demining Squad, who cleaned out the grocery store store and an apartment complex, Miller said.
Police said it’s not clear how a lot of people we in in store at that time of shooting.
The officers were on scene three minutes later of in first 911 callMiller said. it took four minutes from the arrival of the officers until the moment the shooter body was found- said the police.
A search warrant was served on arrow vehicle as well as homeMiller said. Investigators found three molotov cocktails in his car together with sawn-off shotgun. The police are working with ATF to see if the firearm was legal.
In his apartment of power found extra ammo and digital devices that currently is being revised.
CNN has identified several blog entries that appear to be from Ethan Miller that have been released. on “Wattpad” blog site detailing the plan and reasons for shooting. Posts were made public on evening of August 28, anonymous account available for viewing for 12 hours, according to Wattpad. Posts since then removed.
first the blog entry was titled June 29th and signed with name is Ethan. Writer of in post blamed Covid-19 and quarantine for deterioration in their mental health.
The man originally planned the shooting inside the high school. on September 8, according to reports.
There were over 35 posts. made the same account on blog site. Most of posts testified to the desire commit violence.
One post mentioned that he was “partly inspired” by the Columbine High School shooting.
Signed in other posts with name Ethan, several reasons have been given for the writer turned into a “time bomb” that included them family and their love life, which was detailed in a post July 8 headline.
The writer mentioned buying a shotgun and an AR-15. for shooting and said they hope kill over 40 people.
There were other mass executions at the posts. also mentioned.
Customers and employees have described the chaotic scene at the Safeway, saying they scrambled for safety how the bullets flew.
Josh Kaba told CNN affiliate KTVZ that he and his four children went shopping in in store when the shots rang out out.
“We went to the front. Then we heard that I know how many shots out front – six or seven. I immediately turned to my children and said, “Run!” People were screaming. … it was terrible experience”, – said Kaba KTVZ.
Kaba said he was worried about his wife who remained in in car because she didn’t feel well. But since he and three of his children escaped through the exit doors of the grocery aisle, he found that his wife went to back of in store and “sat in in car saying “Get in in car! Get in in car!”, — reports KTVZ.
father was able to rush back in store and find the fourth child,” he told KTVZ.
An employee who only introduced himself after Robert told the Central Oregon Daily News that he and other employees were working the last shift. in grocery store when they heard loud gunfire.
“Me and three other employees encountered walk-in refrigerator and closed the door and stayed there and stayed hidden until the authorities arrive,” he said.
The third person was startled and was in good condition at St. Charles Medical Center, spokeswoman Lisa Goodman said.
Inhabitants in central Oregon city were stunned by the gunfire.
“I heard anywhere from five to eight shots. i thought it sounded like reverse effect, Heather Thompson, who lives across the street, Central Oregon Daily News reported.
“In less than a minute there were 10 to 20 shots and then another 10 to 20 shots,” she said. “And by that time I went inside and told my father to move away from the window. As well as people were launched out of Safeway.
clarification: this story was updated to clarify when Wattpad posts were made public.
