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OREGON CITY, Or. -- A 34-year-old man who shot and wounded two Clackamas County Sheriff’s deputies in 2023 was sentenced to 30 years in prison Thursday.
Tyler James Scott pled guilty in Clackamas County Circuit Court last month to two counts of Attempted Murder in the First Degree. Burglary, theft, assault and other charges were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.
The injured deputies, Jeremy McKenna and Daniel Blair, attended the sentencing but elected not to make statements. They recovered from their injuries and returned to duty last year.
“What happened to these deputies was significant and life-altering,” said Chief Deputy District Attorney Chris Owen. “Both will carry it with them for the rest of their lives. There are a lot of people who think they know what it’s like to be a law enforcement officer, but none can truly know what it’s like to wake up and wonder if you’ll be assaulted or shot at work today while trying to protect the public.”
Scott made a brief statement.
“I don’t make any excuse for what I did. I’m glad you guys are alright,” he said, looking toward the two deputies.
Clackamas County Sheriff Angela Brandenburg and approximately 20 deputies and police officers attended the sentencing.
At the time of shooting on June 30, 2023, McKenna was a newly hired deputy, and Blair was his field training officer.
McKenna and Blair, along with two other deputies, responded to a 911 call at 7:05 a.m. from the owner of a business at 6919 SE Johnson Creek Boulevard who reported a burglary.
The deputies arrived at 7:16 a.m.
McKenna and Blair began searching along the Springwater Corridor, a paved pathway adjacent to the burglarized business.
The deputies encountered two men, Scott and Joseph Ray Schaffer, 48, at a wooded encampment at 7:20 a.m. The deputies identified themselves. Shaffer began to run. Scott raised his arms as if to surrender, then immediately pulled a gun out of his waistband and fired multiple times.
Blair was struck in the left shoulder, and the bullet fractured a bone and caused nerve damage.
At least three shots were fired at McKenna. One bullet went under his ballistic vest and struck him just above his hip. Another struck him in the middle of his torso and was stopped by his vest and cell phone. He told investigators he heard a third bullet whiz by his head.
The shooting occurred less than 10 seconds after Blair and McKenna announced their presence.
Scott ran and was immediately taken into custody by the other two deputies.
The investigation determined the 9mm handgun Scott used in the shooting had been reported stolen.
Schaffer, who was unarmed, remained at the scene. Shaffer was not involved in the assault on the officers and was unaware that Scott intended to shoot at them.
An investigation found Scott and Schaffer stole approximately $1,000 worth of tools from the business.
Schaffer pled guilty to Theft in the First Degree in August 2023 and was sentenced to 30 days in jail and 18 months on probation.
Scott has a long criminal history that includes several convictions for assault, robbery, strangulation, unlawful use of a vehicle and escape.
Since 2021, there have been eight incidents where Clackamas County law enforcement officers have been fired upon. The incidents resulted in three officers, including Blair and McKenna, being shot.
Clackamas County Circuit Court case 23CR31532
