Eagle Point police chief, officer justified in fatal shooting of Trae Blackbear who branished a knife

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Eagle Point, OR - The Jackson County Grand Jury found that the Oct. 15 officer-involved shooting that killed Trae Blackbear in Eagle Point was justified. The Jackson County District Attorney's Office announced the decision in a press release Friday afternoon.

The incident unfolded after a 911 call reported that Blackbear refused to leave an apartment on Onyx Street after forcing his way into the residence, according to testimony from Syrena Waldron, who was reported as Blackbear's girlfriend.

Chief Jim Hamilton of the Eagle Point Police Department located Blackbear near the covered bridge on Main Street. Blackbear initially refused to provide his name and then provided a false name to Chief Hamilton and refused to provide a date of birth.

During the interaction, Blackbear appeared to be hostile and angry, which can be seen in body cam footage. Chief Hamilton told Blackbear that he was being hostile and angry. Blackbear responded, "I'll show you f------ hostile and angry."

Officer Marc Slagle contacted Waldron on the phone on his way to meet with Chief Hamilton and Blackbear. Waldron confirmed Blackbear's legal name, which also revealed an extraditable warrant out of California for a parole violation on a sexual assault.

Officer Slagle activated both his body cam and dash cam as he arrived at the scene.

Dispatch provided Chief Hamilton with physical identifiers to confirm his identity, and also advised that Blackbear had priors for assault and battery.

After confirming his identity, Officer Slagle told Blackbear that he was under arrest for "a warrant".

Chief Hamilton drew his taser, anticipating Blackbear would resist arrest.

Blackbear reached into his backpack on the ground next to him and pulled out a knife. He then attacked Officer Slagle with the knife, leading to Chief Hamilton to deploy his taser.

Blackbear briefly went down while being tased, dropping his knife. Both officers drew their guns and told Blackbear to drop the knife and roll away from it or else he would "be shot".

Blackbear grabbed the knife off the ground, saying "f--- you" as he started to stand. Both officers fired their guns.

Once officers determined Blackbear was no longer a threat, Officer Slagle attempted to render aid, but he was unsuccessful. Blackbear succumbed to his injuries by the time medical personnel arrived to the scene.

During Chief Hamilton's testimony, he said based on his initial contact, he believed Blackbear would either attempt to fight the officers or run away, which is why he preemptively drew his taser prior to the attack.

Both responding officers testified that they believed Blackbear posed an imminent threat of serious physical injury or death.

Officer Slagle had a puncture wound in his right upper arm and a laceration on his right forearm from Blackbear's 5-inch knife, which was seized as a part of the investigation.