On July 18, 2017, in Springfield, Oregon, 70-year-old Robert Earl Vaughan was shot and killed by police who responded after reports of gunfire in his yard. Earlier that day Vaughan had fired a handgun three times from his property and reportedly told a neighbor he wanted officers to come and kill him. When officers arrived he was inside his home and pointed a gun through a kitchen window at responding officers; three officers discharged their weapons and one shot struck Vaughan, killing him.

The Lane County District Attorney concluded the officers were justified in using deadly force, saying Vaughan made the choice that he was going to die that day. It was also reported Vaughan had attempted suicide less than three weeks before the shooting. The officers were placed on administrative leave and were scheduled to return to duty the following week.

If anyone witnessed the events that day or knew Vaughan’s state of mind in the weeks before July 18, 2017, please share what you know.