Silverton’s mayor, Stu Rasmussen, visited the RV park early Tuesday. He said the fatal shooting was Silverton’s third in two decades.He said the alleged shooter in Tuesday’s incident was disturbed.

“In this person’s mental state, the last thing he needed in his hands was a gun,” he told The Oregonian.

Police found the suspect behind a picnic table on a small hill in the southwest part of the RV park, said Don Thomson, a spokesman for the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. Silverton and Keizer police also responded to the scene.

The suspect was hit by at least one round before being taken to the hospital.

No officers were hurt. The Keizer Police Department will lead an investigation of the shooting.

The names of the suspect, the three officers who fired at him, and the wounded man will be released Tuesday, said Captain Jeff Kuhns, a Keizer police spokesman. The officers involved have been placed on standard paid administrative leave pending the investigation.

Keizer Police Department – Media Release

City of Keizer Police Department, Feb. 25, 2013

In accordance with the “Marion County Law Enforcement Use of Deadly Physical Force Response Plan” and under the direction of the Marion County District Attorney’s Office, the Keizer Police Department has been appointed as the lead investigative agency responsible for the investigation of the active shooter and the subsequent use of deadly physical force by responding police officers that occurred on Monday, February 25, 2013 at approximately 1:49 p.m.  This incident occurred at the Silver Spur RV Park which is located at 12622 Silverton Road NE just west of the city limits of the City of Silverton, Oregon.

Marion County Law Enforcement agencies recognize the importance to both their agencies and our communities to ensure any use of deadly force is investigated in a professional, competent and impartial manner.  The openness with which we proceed in these investigations is critical to establishing and maintaining trust within the community.  It is clear our citizens examine closely the action any law enforcement agency takes when their officers utilize deadly physical force, and it is our goal to ensure the community is confident and accepting of the actions Marion County Law Enforcement agencies take when involved in these situations.

With that said, the objective of this media release is to share accurate information that can be released without harming the integrity of the ongoing investigation and any Grand Jury proceedings that may follow.  It is vital in a case like this that the investigation is allowed to run its course.

Prior to this release, two previous media releases pertaining to this incident were issued by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer, Don Thomson.  Those media releases described the time and location of the incident, the condition of the gunman suspect and the nature of the use of deadly physical force by responding officers.  In addition to the previous media releases, Marion County Sheriff Jason Myers also made a statement to members of the media at a news conference that was held at the Silverton Fire District facility at 5:00 p.m. yesterday.

Today, the Keizer Police Department is releasing the name and a photograph of the deceased gunman, the name of the victim, the name of involved deputy from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the names of the two involved troopers from the Oregon State Police.  Additionally, the cause and manner of the suspect’s death is being released at this time.

The suspect gunman has been positively identified as 78-year old Jimmie Eugene Hickey, date of birth November 22, 1934.  The suspect’s last known address was at the Silver Spur RV Park in space #104; however investigators believe he had recently moved away from this address.  Immediately after the incident the suspect was transported to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center by helicopter where he was treated for the gunshot injuries he received during the exchange of gunfire with the deputy and troopers.  The deputy and both of the troopers fired their weapons at the suspect gunman; however the number of shots and the type of weapons each used is not being released at this time.  The suspect was pronounced deceased at approximately 5:00 p.m. on Monday, February 25 at Legacy Emanuel.  His next of kin was notified of his death by investigating officers.

The involved deputy from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office has been identified as Deputy Ryan Postlewait, age 34.  Deputy Postlewait has worked for the Marion County Sheriff’s Office for seven (7) years.  He previously worked for three (3) years for the Independence Police Department and was a Reserve Officer with the Dallas Police Department.  He is currently assigned to the Marion County Traffic Safety Team.  Per Senate Bill 111 (SB 111) and the Marion County Deadly Physical Force Response Plan, Deputy Postlewait has been placed on paid administrative leave.

The involved troopers from the Oregon State Police have been identified as Trooper Nick (Nicholas) Rhoades, age 30, and Trooper James Andrews, age 33.  Trooper Rhoades joined the Oregon State Police on May 1, 2006 and is assigned in the Patrol Services Division at the Salem Area Command office.  Trooper Andrews joined the Oregon State Police on September 20, 2009 and is assigned in the Fish & Wildlife Division at the Salem Area Command office.  Both Troopers have been placed on paid administrative leave per the same protocol as described above.

Although the immediately involved and other responding officers who witnessed the incident were fired upon by the suspect gunman, none of them were injured during the incident. After the suspect gunman was struck by police gunfire medical aid was given by officers and paramedics who had been staged nearby.

One victim who is believed to have been shot by the suspect gunman has been identified as 32-year old Nicholas Lee Fisher.  Mr. Fisher is the assistant manager of the Silver Spur RV Park and resided on site.  He too was flown by helicopter to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center where he received treatment for a non-life threatening gunshot injury he sustained during the incident.

Doctor Clifford Nelson performed an autopsy on the deceased gunman earlier today at the State of Oregon Medical Examiner’s Office in Clackamas.  It was determined the gunman died from multiple gunshot wounds.

Reasonable steps have been taken to preserve the integrity of the scene and to preserve evidence.  The scene of the incident remains secured at this time.  Investigators do not plan to release the scene until the afternoon of Wednesday, February 27th.

No other information is being released at this time with regard to the suspect and any previous contact he may or may not have had with local law enforcement authorities.

The Keizer Police Department has and or is currently being assisted by members of the Marion County Homicide Assault Response Team (H.A.R.T.) which consists of investigators from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police, Salem Police Department, Woodburn Police Department, and Silverton Police Department.  The Silverton Fire District also assisted by providing a ladder truck for aerial photograph of the crime scenes.

The investigation of this incident is continuing at this time.  Further media releases will be coordinated through the Marion County District Attorney’s Office.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to call Keizer Police Department Detective Dmitry White at 503-390-3713 Ext. 3462.

 Silverton RV park shooting: Suspect was delusional, park owner says

By Kimberly A.C. Wilson, The Oregonian, Feb. 26, 2013

A man who opened fire at an RV Park Monday, wounding one person, was a former park resident whom park management had reported to police for his threatening behavior.

Terry Glenn, owner of the Silver Spur RV Park, identified the gunman as Jim Hickey. Glenn said Hickey’s target Monday was a park assistant manager, struck in the arm by a bullet and undergoing surgery this morning.

Hickey “had delusions that people were after him and were going to harm him,” Glenn said. “He seemed to have a particular interest in the fellow that was shot, an irrational focus. I don’t know why.”

Law enforcement officers shot the gunman, who later died, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. Police said there were no other injuries. Residents said the gunman fired numerous rounds.

The gunfire and subsequent shootout with sheriff’s deputies and Oregon State Police troopers unfolded Monday afternoon.

Deputies responded about 1:50 p.m. to the RV park at 12622 Silverton Road N.E. after reports of a man armed with a rifle and handgun “randomly shooting throughout the park,” according to Sheriff Jason Myers.

RV park had trouble with man before shooting

By Anna Staver, Tiffany Vu and Joce DeWitt, Statesman Journal, Feb. 27, 2013

Jimmie Hickey

Jimmie Eugene Hickey died in a Portland hospital from multiple gunshot wounds hours after he opened fire at an RV park near Silverton, wounding an assistant manager.

Keizer police confirmed Tuesday that Hickey was the man shot by officers at the Silver Spur RV Park, where he lived until Feb. 20.

The 78-year-old Hickey entered the park armed with three weapons and shot Nicholas Lee Fisher before climbing a hill next to the park, flipping a picnic table and taking aim at Marion County deputies. Fisher was being treated at Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland, where park management said he is in good spirits and expecting to make a full recovery.

Law enforcement agencies from across Marion County responded, and Deputy Ryan Postlewait was placed on routine administrative leave after the shooting, along with Oregon State Police troopers Nicholas Rhodes and James Andrews.

The three will continue to draw paychecks while Keizer police and the district attorney’s office conduct an investigation.

“They did great yesterday, but yesterday shouldn’t have arrived,” Silver Spur RV Park owner Terry Glenn said.

He said he had been concerned about Hickey for weeks. Glenn said Hickey moved into the RV park Oct. 3, and soon after he started to get complaints that Hickey stalked his neighbors at night and wrote down their license plate numbers. Hickey reportedly told Silver Spur management that people were out to harm him and he thought a conspiracy group was pumping gas into his trailer.

When Hickey went to refill his propane tank Feb. 19, a manager spotted a handgun in Hickey’s pocket. Hickey claimed to have a concealed weapons permit but complied with the manager’s request to put the weapon in his car.

Hickey was charged in 2001 with unlawful possession of a firearm and public indecency. He was convicted of the public indecency charge in 2003, but the firearm charge was dismissed, court records show.

The final straw for Glenn came when Hickey burst into the management office Feb. 20 threatening to kill people. He asked Hickey to leave.

Glenn said Silver Spur’s management called the sheriff’s office several times between January and Monday’s shooting, including Feb. 20. Keizer police said no information would be released yet about Hickey’s contact with law enforcement, but Glenn said a deputy told him that he spoke with Hickey on Feb. 21 and asked him to take a voluntary mental health evaluation.

“Unfortunately, I can’t tell you whether or not we’ve had any contact with this person,” said Scott Richards, a division director who oversees adult and crisis services for Marion County. “If he did, he would protected under our confidentiality agreement and HIPAA.”

Richards said law enforcement will offer people they suspect of having a mental health issue the option of going for an evaluation. He also said that deputies can commit people to Salem Hospital when they believe them to be an immediate threat.

“I am understanding that outcome would be HIPAA-protected,” Glenn said. “What I wanted to know is whether the system had fallen through.”

Salem resident Sherry Lowells knew a different side of Hickey.

“What he did was totally out of character; I never would have guessed that he’d be a man of violence,” she said. “He was not a monster to us and anybody who knew him.”

She said he was “a delightful man” who reminded Lowells of her father, enjoyed vanilla cream soda and loved to sing during karaoke nights at Pudge’s Pub in Silverton.

“When he was at Pudge’s, he was totally coherent,” Lowells said. “He’d sing 50s and 60s songs. He was always really upbeat and really happy. He wanted to talk to everyone.”

Lowell has been a regular at Pudge’s Friday night karaoke for 18 years. She said she met Hickey there about three months ago when he started frequenting the bar.

When she heard about the shooting, Lowells said she cried.

Pudge’s owner Julie Franklin described Hickey as “very nice, very polite” and said he would always thank her for taking such good care of him.

Larry Parent, another Pudge‘s patron, said he initially enjoyed Hickey’s company and even invited him to play golf once. Parent said his good opinion of Hickey started to change about two weeks ago, when Hickey told him that members from a group called the Illuminati were banging on his walls at night.

“When I heard this news, … I says, ‘God, I hope it wasn’t the guy I know from Pudge’s,’ and sure enough, it was,” Parent said. “He never acted aggressive around here. But how many times (in a violent situation) do you hear the neighbors say, ‘They were such nice people.’?”