As reported by the Wild Coast Compass Friday, May 22nd, on Thursday morning of May 21st, Josephine County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a report of a shooting victim in Cave Junction.
Multiple law enforcement agencies confirmed late Thursday that just before 10:30am, the victim, 43 year old Devin Tandy, an Illinois Valley volunteer firefighter, was found deceased by Deputies at the victim’s residence.
Deputies immediately notified surrounding law enforcement agencies after observing evidence that a firearm altercation had taken place and that the victim’s vehicle had been stolen.
Del Norte County then received an officer safety bulletin from Josephine County Sheriff’s Office to be on the look out for a vehicle related to a homicide that had occurred in Cave Junction, Oregon.
According to the bulletin the vehicle was believed to be in possession of the suspect and the suspect was believed to be armed with an assault rifle.
At about 11:30am, a National Park Service Officer observed a vehicle matching the description southbound Hwy. 101 from HWY 199. The vehicle’s license plate matched the earlier bulletin description of the vehicle.
Multiple local law enforcement agencies responded and a high risk traffic stop was initiated. The driver, later identified as 22 year old Deymon Edwards was detained without incident.
At the request of Oregon State Police Detectives, Edwards was taken to the Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office interview room to await an interview by Oregon State Police Detectives.
Oregon State Police Detectives responded and questioned Edwards. Edwards was taken into custody and booked into the Del Norte County Jail on murder charges as well as other charges and is currently awaiting extradition to Oregon.
Details of the incident as well as possible motives have not been released and the incident remains under investigation.
The Wild Coast Compass wishes to extend our deepest condolences to the family of Devin Tandy as well as his extended family at the Illinois Valley Fire District.
