On November 15, 2015, a tragic incident occurred in Florence, Oregon, resulting in the deaths of two brothers, Gary Circle and Joseph Circle. The events unfolded at the residence of Joseph Circle, located at 403 Hemlock Street. According to Florence Police Chief Tom Turner, the incident began as a dispute between the two brothers, which escalated into a deadly confrontation.
Gary Circle, 51 years old and a resident of Dexter, Oregon, had arrived at his older brother Joseph's home around
10:30 PM on the evening of November 14. The brothers were attempting to resolve a dispute related to family property, but their argument quickly turned violent. As Gary Circle tried to leave the premises, he got into his truck. However, Joseph Circle, who was 55 years old, followed him outside, broke the window of Gary's truck, and shot him once in the head, killing him instantly.
Following the shooting, Joseph Circle returned to his residence and shot himself in the head. He later died from his injuries at Peace Harbor Hospital. The incident was reported to the police after a family member, who was present at the scene, called 911 at 2:39 AM on November 15.
The police investigation confirmed that the dispute between the brothers was the primary cause of the violence. There were no other suspects involved in this incident, as it was determined to be a murder-suicide resulting from the brothers' argument. Therefore, there were no arrests made, as the perpetrator, Joseph Circle, had taken his own life.
The incident marked the first murder in Florence in 23 years, highlighting the isolated and tragic nature of the event. The police emphasized that there was no danger posed to the wider community, as the incident was confined to the dispute between the two brothers.
