Salem, OR – The Lane County District Attorney’s Office has determined that the officer-involved shooting in the Glenwood area on November 26, 2024, was justified. The incident, which resulted in the death of Guy Cruz Jr., occurred after a tense standoff between police and the wanted fugitive.
Cruz, a man with a violent criminal history, had violated his federal probation and was facing drug charges. Authorities in Washington state had been seeking his arrest, and the U.S. Marshals Service reached out to the Eugene Police Department (EPD) for assistance in locating and apprehending him. Cruz, who had eluded previous attempts to capture him, was believed to be in the Eugene area with several associates.
The District Attorney’s Office reported that a search of one of Cruz’s former residences had uncovered disturbing items, including body armor, an improvised explosive device, ammunition, and drug paraphernalia. Authorities were also concerned about Cruz’s threats of “suicide by cop” and his history of violent behavior and firearm possession. As a result, EPD requested the support of a SWAT team to assist in the operation.
Detectives and a drone team tracked Cruz’s movements as he traveled with a female associate between a hotel, store, storage unit, and eventually a gas station on Glenwood Drive. After Cruz and his associate got into another vehicle, they were dropped off at a homeless camp near Moon Mountain Drive and Laurel Hill Drive. At this point, SWAT officers decided to move in and attempt an arrest, as the location appeared to be isolated.
As officers approached the camp, one SWAT member deployed a flashbang near Cruz and his associate. The female associate immediately surrendered, but Cruz ran after discarding a black bag. Officers pursued him at a safe distance, yelling at him to stop and drop any weapons. The chase led Cruz to the edge of a cliff, where he turned to face officers, holding what appeared to be a gun in his hand.
According to the District Attorney’s Office, the officer in pursuit yelled at Cruz to put his hands up, warning that he would be shot. The officer reported that Cruz pointed the firearm at him, prompting the officer to open fire. The officer discharged his rifle multiple times, retreating from the edge of the cliff for cover.
After the shooting, officers continued their efforts to secure the area, fearing that Cruz, who may have been wearing body armor, was still a threat. The SWAT team fired a less-lethal round and deployed a K-9, but Cruz remained unresponsive. Officers then pulled him up the cliff, applied a tourniquet, and attempted CPR. Medics arrived shortly afterward but determined that Cruz had died.
A loaded 1911-style handgun was discovered near Cruz’s body, and a second loaded .40 caliber pistol was found in the bag he had discarded during the chase.
After reviewing all evidence, including testimonies from the officers involved, the Lane County District Attorney’s Office concluded that the shooting was a justified use of force in self-defense. The officers’ actions were deemed necessary to protect themselves and others from the immediate threat posed by Cruz.
