Local News

The Medford Police Department has arrested two juvenile suspects for their roles in last weekend's homicide in the parking lot of Wilson Elementary School.

MPD officers responded to a report of a man down in the school parking lot located in the 1400-block of Johnson Street early Sunday morning. The man was identified as a 26-year-old Medford resident and he was pronounced deceased at the scene from what appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds.

MPD detectives obtained surveillance video from the school and nearby homes. The footage revealed that the shooting occurred at about 11:30 p.m. Saturday. No calls for service related to suspicious activity or gunshots had been received.

Utilizing resources from the Southern Oregon High Tech Crimes Task Force and in collaboration with the Medford School District, detectives swiftly identified the suspects. The investigation revealed that a 15-year-old girl allegedly lured the victim to the school where her 17-year-old male accomplice confronted the victim and shot him multiple times. Both suspects fled the scene on foot.

Early Tuesday morning, an MPD officer located the 17-year-old male suspect riding a bicycle on Hawthorne Street. He attempted to flee into Hawthorne Park but was apprehended after a short foot pursuit. Shortly thereafter, the 15-year-old female suspect was arrested at her residence in the 1500-block of Johnson Street.

Due to their ages, the names of the juvenile suspects are not being released. The victim's family was notified and requested the name of the victim not be released.

The juvenile suspects were lodged at the Jackson County Juvenile Detention Center on felony charges of 2nd-Degree Murder and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. The case has been referred to the District Attorney's Office for prosecution.