TIDEWATER, Ore. — An investigation by the Lane County District Attorney’s Office has concluded that law enforcement officers were justified in fatally shooting Tyler Holloway during an incident in the Tidewater area on December 27, 2024.
The event unfolded when deputies from the Lane County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO), Oregon State Police troopers, and officers from the Springfield Police Department were called to a residence on East Five Rivers Road around 10 p.m. on December 26, following a reported fatal shooting. Upon arriving, law enforcement attempted to make contact with individuals at the property. This led to an officer-involved shooting in which Holloway, a resident of the property, was struck and later died from his injuries. No law enforcement personnel were harmed during the encounter.
The initial call to law enforcement involved a homicide, and officers were dispatched to investigate. A key suspect, identified as 55-year-old Everett Scott Fuller, was connected to the original shooting incident. Fuller later turned himself into the Lane County Sheriff’s Office and was arrested on a second-degree murder charge.
In the aftermath of the incident, all officers involved in the shooting were placed on administrative leave in accordance with standard protocol.
The investigation into the officer-involved shooting was complicated by several challenges, including severe weather and difficult terrain. The Lane County Sheriff’s Office, which is responsible for the area, faced delays in reaching the scene due to a winter storm and impassable roads. As a result, additional support was requested from nearby agencies, including Oregon State Police and the Lincoln and Benton County Sheriff’s Offices.
Law enforcement officers began to arrive at the scene in the early morning hours of December 27, but their efforts were hindered by a weak bridge that could not support heavier vehicles, blocking access for other vehicles. Officers could not approach the property directly, and their efforts were further complicated by poor visibility, radio interference, and ongoing rainstorms.
At around 4:30 a.m. on December 27, a seven-person SWAT team was assembled to conduct a covert approach to the property. As the team advanced toward a shop on the property where the shooting victim’s body had been found, they encountered Holloway, who exited the building holding objects in both hands, one of which appeared to be a handgun.
A senior Oregon State Police trooper announced “state police” and ordered Holloway to come toward them. However, due to the heavy rainfall, the trooper’s command may not have been heard clearly by Holloway, who, according to the District Attorney’s report, appeared startled by the call and potentially confused it with a command from the shooter. Holloway then fired a shot in the direction of the trooper. In response, three officers returned fire, hitting Holloway as he retreated into the shop.
Police eventually used a drone to investigate the property further and extracted two women from the shop. Authorities later confirmed that Holloway and the initial shooting victim, identified as Fuller’s alleged target, were both found dead at the scene.
An autopsy revealed that Holloway died from a single high-velocity bullet wound to the chest. The Lane County District Attorney’s Office determined, after reviewing the incident, that the officers involved were not criminally responsible for Holloway’s death. The decision came after assessing the dangerous circumstances law enforcement faced, including Holloway’s actions, which led them to believe their lives were in immediate danger.
The investigation concluded that the officers acted within the boundaries of the law when they responded to Holloway’s gunfire. As a result, no charges will be filed against the officers involved in the shooting.
This incident is part of an ongoing investigation into the events that transpired in Tidewater that evening, with officials continuing to assess the full scope of the situation.
