Amber Townsend, 34, was found mortally wounded alongside Cape Arago Highway in Coos Bay, Oregon, on the morning of Saturday, June 11, 2022. Emergency crews responded to two 911 calls about a woman down at about 8:33 AM and discovered Townsend with multiple shotgun wounds; she was taken to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead. Investigators determined she had been walking alone toward Charleston when she was shot.

Evidence at the scene included shotgun shell wadding found in and near her clothing, but the spent shells were not recovered. Surveillance footage showed Townsend walking by herself shortly before the shooting. Review of additional video on June 14 identified a blue SUV near the scene; the vehicle pulled over, the driver looked in a rearview mirror, then made a U-turn and later sped away. The SUV was traced to Matthew Tyler Michel, who had recently bought it for cash.

Michel was located at a Coos Bay motel and confronted on a probation violation. When officers encountered him at his room door he retreated inside, picked up a knife and advanced toward an officer; two officers fired, and Michel later died of his wounds. No shotgun was recovered in the room or vehicle, though a new 12-gauge shotgun cleaning kit and reports of shotgun ammunition in a room Michel had rented were noted. No other suspects have been identified. Does anyone have information about Townsend’s movements that morning or about the blue SUV seen on the footage?