Eugene police seek suspect after random roadside attack near Highway 99
A man in his mid-30s was struck by a car, pistol-whipped and shot at near Highway 99 and Roosevelt, where police are still hunting a suspect and neighbors already worry about safety.
A late-night attack near Highway 99 and Roosevelt has sharpened fears along one of north Eugene’s busiest corridors, where residents, late-night workers and drivers already move through steady traffic after dark. Eugene police say a man in his mid-30s was hit by a car, then pistol-whipped, around 12:30 a.m. on May 2 before the suspect fled the scene.
Investigators say the encounter was random. Police also said a shot was fired during the assault, but the bullet did not strike the victim. The case has drawn attention not just because of its violence, but because it unfolded in a place many people use to get home, reach businesses or cross between neighborhoods in north Eugene.
Police released a description of the suspect in hopes of identifying him. He was described as a Black man in his 20s to mid-30s, with a heavy build and a height of about 6 feet to 6 feet 4 inches. He was reportedly wearing a blue jacket and light gray sweats and driving a newer white four-door sedan, possibly an Acura or Toyota. That description suggests investigators are looking for surveillance footage, witness statements and any license-plate leads from businesses or homes along the route.
The attack happened in a corridor that city officials and police already view as a priority area. The City of Eugene’s River Road and Hwy 99 Corridor Study is aimed at making the roadway safer, more reliable and better connected, with plans that include better bus speed and reliability, safer crossings and bikeways, and upgrades such as medians, roundabouts, street lighting and intersection improvements. The project is funded by a $350,000 Federal Transit Administration grant in partnership with Lane Transit District.
Police and city crews have also been active in the Highway 99 corridor from Barger to Roosevelt in response to community concerns. Eugene Police said crime in that stretch has been a topic of neighborhood and business feedback, and recent enforcement operations have targeted issues including trespassing, blocked sidewalks and people gathering in front of businesses. KEZI reported that one such operation led to about 15 arrests.
The Roosevelt area has seen serious violence before. In December 2024, police arrested Robert Kirk Lowen-Birtsch after a late-night shooting at Highway 99 North and Roosevelt Boulevard that left a 29-year-old man injured and hospitalized. That earlier case, along with the May 2 attack, underscores why the intersection remains a flashpoint for safety concerns in north Eugene.
Eugene police are asking anyone with information to call 541-682-5111. Emergency calls and crimes in progress should go to 911.
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