All lanes of Interstate 5 were closed briefly early Saturday morning just north of Exit 14
By Ashland.news staff
UPDATE: 3:25 p.m. Saturday
Oregon State Police and multiple other agencies responded to a report of an active shooter on Interstate 5 near milepost 15 at about 5:22 a.m. Saturday, according to an email from Capt. Kyle Kennedy, Oregon State Police government and media relations representative.
Kennedy said the suspect, Devanta Mader, 29, of Ashland, shot at law enforcement before fleeing the scene on foot.
Kennedy said law enforcement surrounded Mader in a field about 200 yards away from where the incident initially occurred. Using an armored vehicle, authorities arrested Mader without any further incident.
Kennedy said no injuries were reported.
Mader has been charged with unlawful use of a weapon, reckless endangering, menacing, first degree attempted assault, driving under the influence of intoxicants, reckless driving, and second degree criminal mischief, according to an OSP news release. Kennedy said state police are still investigating the incident, and more charges could be added.
County jail records show Mader was also charged with unlawful possession of cocaine.
The Ashland Police Department and Jackson County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the incident.
ORIGINAL POST
Law enforcement arrested an active shooter on Interstate 5 between Exits 14 and 19 on Saturday, July 19, according to Ashland Police Chief Tighe O’Meara.
O’Meara said nobody was hurt, including the suspect. However, according to the PulsePoint app, a medical emergency was reported at 5:26 a.m. on Saturday in the southbound lanes of Interstate 5. Jackson County Fire District 5 responded and cleared the area at 6:09 a.m.
O’Meara declined further comment. He said the Oregon State Police is the lead agency for the incident. Officials with the state police department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
All lanes of Interstate 5 were closed at mile marker 15, north of Exit 14, due to the active shooter, according to a post by Medfordalert.com.
Officials reopened northbound lanes around 7:40 a.m. and southbound lanes at approximately 10:20 a.m.
For the latest road information, visit tripcheck.com.
This story will be updated as information becomes available.
Email Ashland.news associate editor Steve Mitchell at [email protected].
