I-84 carjacker committed suicide
By Terry Murry on Monday, January 17th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – An autopsy on the man suspected of causing havoc on Interstate 84 between Pendleton and La Grande on New Year’s Eve was completed late last week. The Cowlitz County Coroner’s Office in Washington ruled that Nicholas Proudfoot died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The coroner determined that Proudfoot was not struck by bullets fired by Oregon State Police Sgt. Grant Jackson, nor was he struck by a shot fired by a civilian victim of a carjacking. Jackson has been with OSP since 2007, working out of the La Grande office.
The Pendleton Police Department conducted the investigation of the incident for the Umatilla County District Attorney’s Office. PPD was not involved in the law enforcement effort to catch Proudfoot. It is customary when shots are fired by a member of law enforcement that an uninvolved law enforcement agency performs the investigation.
Chief Chuck Byram said his department’s role in the investigation is complete and all of the investigative material gathered is being sent to the DA. For background information about the incident go to https://elkhornmediagroup.com/pursuit-subject-dies-from-injuries/.
