On July 27, 2018, a tragic incident occurred in Selma, Oregon, resulting in the deaths of two men, Matthew J. Cortez and Jesse Swift, both 28 years old and residents of Cave Junction. The incident took place at approximately 12:30 a.m. on Highway 199 near Reeves Creek Road.
Oregon State Police responded to the scene, initially believing the men might have been killed in a traffic crash. However, upon arrival, they discovered that Cortez and Swift had been fatally shot.
A suspect, identified as Jesse McCrea, was detained shortly after the shooting, although he was not charged in connection with the homicides.
The investigation was conducted by the Oregon State Police and the Josephine County District Attorney's Office. The case was eventually presented to a Josephine County grand jury on December 20, 2018. After a thorough review, the grand jury determined that there was not enough evidence to disprove that the shooting was done in self-defense. This decision led to McCrea being cleared of any charges related to the shooting deaths of Cortez and Swift.
Although McCrea was not charged with the homicides, he was indicted for driving under the influence of intoxicants, which was a separate issue uncovered during the investigation. The grand jury's decision was based on a detailed analysis of the circumstances surrounding the shooting, adhering to Oregon law which requires a fact-specific inquiry into the reasonableness of the use of self-defense.
The incident highlights the complexities involved in determining the legitimacy of self-defense claims. Chief Deputy District Attorney Lisa Turner emphasized that each case involving self-defense is analyzed on a case-by-case basis, focusing on whether the use of physical or deadly force was reasonable under the specific circumstances.
In summary, Matthew J. Cortez and Jesse Swift lost their lives in a shooting incident in Selma, Oregon, on July 27, 2018. Jesse McCrea, who was detained following the incident, was ultimately cleared of any charges related to the homicides due to a grand jury's determination that the shooting could have been justified as self-defense. However, McCrea faced legal consequences for driving under the influence of intoxicants. The case underscores the meticulous process involved in evaluating self-defense claims under Oregon law.
