CAVE JUNCTION, Ore. — A volunteer firefighter for the Illinois Valley Fire District was shot and killed at his home on Thursday morning, law enforcement and fire officials confirm.
Deputies from the Josephine County Sheriff's Office responded to the 900-block of Caves Highway around 10:20 a.m. after a 911 call came in for a shooting victim. When the deputies arrived, they found a man dead near the rear door of the residence.
Oregon State Police later identified the victim as 43-year-old Devin Tandy. According to Illinois Valley Fire chief John Holmes, Tandy was a volunteer firefighter with the agency. He is believed to have been shot in his home by the suspect as he was getting ready to respond to a call.
At the scene, investigators found evidence of a gun battle. Tandy's vehicle had been stolen, and the Sheriff's Office quickly sent out a bulletin to other law enforcement agencies.
Around 11:45 a.m., officers stopped a suspect in the stolen vehicle outside of Crescent City, California. One person was taken into custody.
OSP identified the suspect as 22-year-old Deymon Edwards, who was lodged in the Del Norte County Jail on charges of Murder I, Robbery I, Unlawful Use of a Vehicle and Theft I.
The investigation is now in the hands of Oregon State Police, which is looking into the circumstances of the firefighter's death. This is a developing story and will be updated with more details as they emerge.
Chief Holmes told NewsWatch 12 that a procession in the firefighter's honor was held Thursday evening from Cave Junction to the OSP crime lab in Central Point, with other first responder agencies providing escort.
