SPRINGFIELD – While responding to a call on the morning of Aug. 31, one Springfield Police Department (SPD) officer was shot, and another was struck by fragments from the shots.
At 8:09 a.m. on Aug. 31, SPD 911 received multiple calls from residents concerned about a man who was acting erratically and breaking items in the street. He then retreated back into his residence. When SPD patrol officers responded to the scene and knocked on the door, gunfire erupted from inside the home at 8:36 a.m.
The two injured officers were then removed from the scene because they required medical attention. Some residents were also removed from the scene due to the risk posed from the suspect firing his gun into the neighborhood.
The investigation has revealed that the suspect, 46-year-old Michael Allen Groff, fired about 30 rifle rounds from inside his residence.
Additional officers responded to the scene to assist SPD from Eugene Police Department, Lane County Sheriff’s Office, and Oregon State Police.
Negotiators were successful in getting Groff to walk out of his home to be taken into custody at 10:03 a.m. The gunman, Groff, has been charged with assault in the 1st degree, two counts of assaulting a public safety officer, and unlawful use of a weapon.
One officer remains hospitalized and is in stable condition, while Groff is at Lane County Jail.
More details will be reported as information is released.