Lane County deputies investigate deadly Veneta shooting, arrest suspect
A late-night shooting on Huston Road left one Veneta man dead and sent another to jail. Deputies say there is no ongoing threat as the investigation continues.
A late-night shooting in the 87000 block of Huston Road left one man dead in Veneta and another man jailed on murder and weapons charges, jolting a small city west of Eugene where violent crime is rare and consequences are immediate.
Lane County dispatchers received the report of gunfire around 9 p.m. Tuesday, June 3. When deputies arrived at the property, they contacted several people there and found one person dead at the scene, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office said.
Authorities identified the victim as 40-year-old Mark Thomas Tierney. Detectives arrested 63-year-old Martin Grant Tierney during the investigation and booked him into the Lane County Jail on charges of second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon.
The sheriff’s office said everyone involved in the case has been identified and accounted for, and there is no ongoing threat to the public. Investigators have not said what led to the shooting or described the relationship between the two men, leaving the case in its earliest stage as detectives continue to gather evidence.
For neighbors along Huston Road, the impact lands in a place that is usually associated with a very different rhythm. Veneta’s population was estimated at 5,194 in 2024 and 5,138 in 2025, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, a reminder of how quickly a single violent incident can reverberate in a town this size.
The City of Veneta describes the community as a small city west of Eugene and near Fern Ridge Reservoir. It is also home to the Oregon Country Fair, which draws thousands each summer and is one of the area’s best-known attractions. That contrast, between a recreation-driven reputation and a deadly shooting on a residential road, underscores why the call on Huston Road drew such a large law-enforcement response.
No road closure or lingering access problem was reported in the sheriff’s office statement, and deputies said the scene had been secured as the investigation moved forward. The case remained active, with investigators still piecing together how the shooting unfolded and what happened inside the property before deputies arrived.
The central facts are now clear: one man is dead, one man is in custody, and Veneta residents have been told there is no immediate danger. What remains unanswered is what happened in those minutes before 9 p.m. on Huston Road, and why.
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