PORTLAND, Ore. — Authorities have identified the gunman who was killed Friday after a seven-hour standoff with police, when he barricaded himself inside a converted bus near a Salem Wal-Mart and shot at officers.
Oregon State Police identified the man as Mark Cecil Hawkins of Eugene. The 49-year-old Hawkins was wanted on a warrant out of Lane County. He failed to appear in court on the charge of delivery of a controlled substance after his arrest in November for methamphetamine delivery.
The standoff began Friday morning with a report of a suspicious vehicle and the discovery there was a warrant for the arrest of Hawkins, who was inside. Officers exchanged gunfire with him, and the gunman wounded a police dog.
During the afternoon, police used tear gas, but the man refused to come out. After several hours of negotiation with Hawkins, during which he continued to fire at officers, police used heavy equipment to ram the parked bus and rip away parts of its walls so they could see where the man was.
Police say he still refused to put down his handgun, and tactical officers fired at him. The gunman tumbled out of the bus and was taken to a hospital, where he died.
An autopsy by the Oregon state medical examiner showed Hawkins was shot nine times; he died of gunshot wounds to the chest.
Ultimately police said they had to move in because of his “erratic behavior, and the fact he was continuing to fire rounds,” said Salem police Lt. Dave Okada.
Salem police said officers directly involved in the shooting will be placed on administrative leave while Oregon State Police investigate.
The standoff occurred in southeast Salem between Interstate 5 and Salem Municipal Airport.
During the standoff police put the Wal-Mart store into lockdown, meaning customers couldn’t leave.
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