On August 24, 2014, Stephen Andrew McMilon, a 52-year-old resident of Medford, Oregon, was fatally shot by Medford Police Officers Salvador Garcia and Stephen Meador. The incident unfolded after police responded to two separate calls involving McMilon.
The first police response was initiated due to concerns about McMilon's behavior, but it did not result in any immediate action. However, the situation escalated during the second response.
When officers arrived at the scene for the second time, they encountered McMilon who was armed with a shotgun, two handguns, and a substantial amount of ammunition.
According to the police report and agency press release, McMilon menaced the officers with the shotgun, creating a highly volatile situation. Within two minutes of the officers' arrival, McMilon fired at least one round at one of the officers. In response to this immediate threat, the police officers returned fire, resulting in McMilon being shot and killed.
There were no other suspects involved in this incident, as it was a solo encounter between McMilon and the responding police officers. The officers' actions were taken in self-defense and to protect themselves from the imminent danger posed by McMilon's aggressive behavior and use of firearms.
The incident highlights the complexities and risks involved in law enforcement responses to individuals who are armed and behaving erratically. In this case, the officers had to make a swift and critical decision to protect themselves and potentially others in the vicinity from harm. There were no arrests made other than the fatal confrontation with McMilon, as he was the sole individual involved in the incident.
