Grand jury to consider charges against suspect shot by Baker City officers
By Joe Hathaway on Wednesday, January 10th, 2024 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
BAKER CITY – Baker County District Attorney Greg Baxter says he will convene a grand jury on Thursday, January 11 to consider potential criminal charges against a suspect who was shot by Baker City Police officers.
30-year-old Justin Douglass Burkeen of Boise remains in a Boise hospital, recovering from gunshot wounds after two Baker City Police Officers opened fire after he pulled a gun on them during a traffic stop.
The traffic stop occurred around 2:00am on Tuesday, January 2 on Clark and Church streets in Baker. Burkeen was the passenger in the front seat in the vehicle that was pulled over.
Baxter still has not released any details on the interaction between officers and Burkeen during the traffic stop other than at some point, Burkeen brandished a firearm.
The officers who shot Burkeen are expected to be named this week. They remain on paid administrative leave.
Burkeen had multiple arrest warrants out of Idaho. The Idaho Department of Corrections lists him as a fugitive. According to court records, an arrest warrant was issued out of Ada County in August 2023 and he failed to appear for a probation review hearing in November 2023.
Baxter tells Elkhorn Media Group he has reviewed bodycam footage worn by the officers at the time of the shooting and plans to present footage to the grand jury on Thursday.
