Eugene shooting near Garden Way leaves one person critically injured

Callers reported gunfire about 9:45–9:46 p.m. on the night of Tuesday, Feb. 17, and Eugene police later found one person with life-threatening injuries in the parking lot at Chase Gardens Medical Center, 330 S. Garden Way. Officers provided immediate medical care until Eugene Springfield Fire arrived and transported the victim to a local hospital.

Eugene Police spokesperson Melinda McLaughlin said the department does not consider the shooting a random act of violence, noting, "This is not a random act of violence, but instead is an incident between a group of individuals." The Violent Crimes Unit and Forensic Evidence Unit responded to the scene and the department opened case number 26-02499; EPD is asking anyone with information to come forward.

Initial calls placed to dispatch reported shots fired near the intersection of Marche Chase Drive and Kinsrow Avenue and described people running and vehicles fleeing the area. While officers were still responding, a separate report came in that an injured person had been located in the Chase Gardens Medical Center parking lot at 330 South Garden Way, where officers encountered the victim and rendered aid.

A later update from police confirmed the injured person is a 14-year-old boy, a detail released Wednesday afternoon by McLaughlin. No name, arrest or suspect information has been released by police and no hospital name has been disclosed in public statements provided to reporters.

The shooting occurred in the Harlow neighborhood, an area described in reporting as dense with apartment buildings and near a medical building and apartment units. Neighbor MacKenzie Erb told KEZI, "Around 9:45, I was laying down and I heard two pops, and it sounded like a car backfiring. About 10 minutes later, I could hear sirens, and the sirens kept coming and coming, and I looked out my window and I realized that there was about 10 or so vehicles with lights on it."

Community members at the scene and at the hospital expressed appreciation for first responders. A source quoted by KVAL identified only by the surname Black said, "When I saw what the police did, fire, paramedics, at the hospital last night, I have such a high-level appreciation of what they do every day. And as I was sitting at the hospital last night, I recognize, you know, I have heroes in my life, but these should be our heroes."

Schools were alerted after the incident and, according to a statement attributed to McIver, "Mental health and well‑being professionals provided support to students and staff Wednesday and will continue at the school in the days ahead." The investigation remains ongoing; investigators from the Violent Crimes Unit and Forensic Evidence Unit continue work on case 26-02499 and EPD reiterated that it is seeking tips from the public.