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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Court awards $1 million to Jackson County 6-year-old injured at birth Emergency Services, March 21 Talent father faces assault charges in alleged whipping Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Jacksonville embraces digital marketing Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency Services, March 21 Talent father faces assault charges in alleged whipping Firefighters stop Gold Hill shed fire before it spreads Missing man found dead in forest in Applegate Lake area 'We tried to de-escalate it' Politics and Elections Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US Special election: Jackson County voters OK marijuana tax Ex-Merkley aide chosen as Oregon secretary of state Ashland: Budget increase, swimming pool funding discussion on council agenda Education Eight vie for Medford School Board positions Proposed Medford textbook raises constitutional concern North Medford High School principal to retire in June Southern Oregon University's building boom adds up to $130 million South Medford, Ashland, St. Mary's students building video game Environment Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Controversial asphalt plant in Talent wins county planning approval Mt. Ashland hopes coming storm will reopen ski area Odd visitors found off Oregon Coast Forum explores data gathered in Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument State News Bend company's aim: Connect investors to Africa Brown proposes $1 billion in California drought spending Are they decorations or desecration? The Dalles Standoff: Suicide by smoke inhalation Officials urge meningitis shots at University of Oregon Nation - World Obituaries Death Notices David Braden Frohnmayer Ray Houck Death Notices Geneva Rosel Canty Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Bank of America is predicting a massive Tesla collapse Sports Latest Stories Corban takes two from Raiders No. 8 Ducks advance with victory Payton lifts Magic over Blazers Wiese, OSU top South Dakota State Hoffmann goes on birdie run at Bay Hill Varsity 541 College Sports Corban takes two from Raiders No. 8 Ducks advance with victory Wiese, OSU top South Dakota State Young, UC Irvine fall just short of upset Despite critics aplenty, UCLA surprises SMU on rare 3-pointer Pro Sports Payton lifts Magic over Blazers Hoffmann goes on birdie run at Bay Hill Harden erupts for 50 in Rockets victory Djokovic reaches semifinals via walkover Grandma dies, then Hoffman takes lead Community Sports Business Latest Stories Blog: Three Cheers for Today! Test Drive: 2015 Subaru Outback Limited Silvio Calabi: 2015 Cherokee is a modern Jeep Oregon winemaking emerges as mighty agricultural force Rogue Disposal plans natural gas fueling site Real Estate News East McAndrews Road sees a resurgence in commercial projects Business briefs: March 7 New construction prices jump 18.2 percent in Jackson County People In Business People in Business: Feb. 28 People in Business Transportation Rogue Disposal plans natural gas fueling site Alaska, United Express boost Medford airport to record February CEO Rieder leaving Erickson March 31 Lodging gains bode well for travel industries Agriculture Harry & David announces new president Warm winter has fruit growers poised for action Briefcase: Business briefs for Feb. 21 Opinion Latest Matthew T. Mangino: When is a confession not a confession? Our View: Textbook authors' reasoning hard to fathom Letters to the Editor, March 20 Michael Gerson: Hillary Clinton's Nixonian path to office Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Editorials Our View: Textbook authors' reasoning hard to fathom Our View: White House public records move is less than sunny Our View: Where the wild things shouldn't be Our View: Keeping the light trained on government Other Views: State must rein in medical marijuana Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, March 20 Letters to the Editor, March 19 Letters to the Editor, March 18 Letters to the Editor, March 17 Letters to the Editor, March 16 Columns Matthew T. Mangino: When is a confession not a confession? Michael Gerson: Hillary Clinton's Nixonian path to office Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Dana Milbank: GOP budget is one big gimmick George Will: Kasich waits in the wings Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Central Point Cemetery needs work and city action Guest Opinion: Return to clearcutting is wrong approach for counties Guest Opinion: Plan a Hawthorne playground for all children Guest Opinion: There is nothing uniform about the Uniform Crime Report GUEST OPINION: Police, community should work to prevent profiling Lifestyle Latest stories Barbara Presnell: Why poetry? And why do it now? Get Out! March 20 calendar of things to do Looking Up: Looking for the zodiacal light Ocean salmon look plentiful off the Southern Oregon coast this year, but next year's a different story Wood bison to roam Alaska again Food Eat this, not that Peanut allergy breakthrough Eat your sprouts More fast food perils Pork perfection: Consider pork steaks instead of ham for the Easter dinner table Home and Garden Hello, honey: Invite bees for a lush garden Understand home inspection Dear Monty: Tips for checking out an existing septic system Garden Cameos: Now is the perfect time to spot wildflowers Paul Rogers: It’s time to assess the damage to yards Health Health Watch: 5 tips for seasonal allergy relief A better bedtime Studying stress Eat this, not that Peanut allergy breakthrough Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs Religion News: Presbyterian Church gives approval on same-sex marriage Religion briefs: Friday, March 13 More religion events in the Rogue Valley Religion Briefs Milestones and Achievements Haga-Parks Exercise helps special-needs kids adjust to airport procedures Engagement: Workman-Wright Anniversary: Hofer Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Here's five top entertainment picks for the coming week Alt-rock band Key of Three is a contender this weekend at Rising Stars Improv rock and folk band hosts a dance party at the Ashland Community Center Andrew Lloyd Webber's lush musical 'Sunset Boulevard' opens at Camelot Theatre in Talent Review: 'Same Time' after all these years Theater Andrew Lloyd Webber's lush musical 'Sunset Boulevard' opens at Camelot Theatre in Talent Review: Thanks for the Memories pulls off challenging 'Anastasia' Review: 'Same Time' after all these years Randall Theatre presents playwright Bernard Slade's comedy Thanks for the Memories presents 'Anastasia' Music Live Music in Local Clubs Alt-rock band Key of Three is a contender this weekend at Rising Stars Improv rock and folk band hosts a dance party at the Ashland Community Center Kites & Crows, Ryan Marchand and Mercy Duo face-off this weekend at Rising Stars music competition in Jacksonville Rogue Valley Chorale presents 'A Festival of Choirs' at the Craterian Theatre Community Events Rogue Valley artist Linda Evans' pastel paintings capture landscapes of Southern Oregon Ashland Independent Film Festival announces this year's lineup OSF Hip-Hop Poetry Open Mic Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jesse Lawson and Joe Moxley host 'Barkeeper' Dining Jasmine Thai Cuisine Restaurant Inspections Agave offers gourmet tacos, tamales, ensaladas and more Serra storms Seattle Sakura Japanese Sushi Restaurant opens in new location Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines/Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Court awards $1 million to Jackson County 6-year-old injured at birth ... Talent father faces assault charges in alleged whipping ... Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 ... Court awards $1 million to Jackson County 6-year-old injured at birth ... Talent father faces assault charges in alleged whipping ... Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 ... OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING 'We tried to de-escalate it' Police believe they did what they could for Shipley; family friend wishes they'd intervened sooner By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 20, 2015 @ 12:01 am Medford Police Chief Tim George discusses the March 17 shooting on Argyle Court in more detail. By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 20, 2015 @ 12:01 am » RELATED CONTENT • Medford police add details on Tuesday fatal shooting • Mentally ill man dies in volley of gunfire with Medford police... • Shooting involving MPD officers • West Medford shooting » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Though police had been negotiating with an armed, mentally ill man who'd barricaded himself inside a west Medford house for 19 hours, the tragic outcome Tuesday came down to the final two minutes. "We tried to de-escalate it," Medford police Chief Tim George said Thursday in an interview with the Mail Tribune. "It seemed like it was pretty calm, and then, 'boom.' What turned on a dime was, all of a sudden was, 'boom' — the round goes off inside the house." Andrew Charles Shipley, 49, was shot and killed by police after he reportedly fired one shot inside the house and then pointed a high-powered hunting rifle at officers and fired. George said he was saddened by the fatal outcome, but that he did not see that officers had an option to do anything differently. "As far as effort goes, I think everybody was hopeful where it was going, that we were going to peacefully resolve this, but it didn't happen," George said. "I can't understand why it flipped like that at 10:30 in the morning." Shipley had been living at the home of his girlfriend at 360 Argyle Court when the shooting occurred. His mental health had been declining for days, if not weeks, George said. Dalton Keehnen, 18, boyfriend of the daughter of Shipley's girlfriend, told the Mail Tribune in a phone interview Thursday that days before the shooting, Shipley had started making statements about Armageddon and the rapture in broken sentences, didn't sleep and was angry. Keehnen said he spent Saturday night with a chair propped against the door in the room where he was sleeping for fear Shipley would come in. He said Shipley would wander out into the living room where Shipley's girlfriend slept and just stand there. "We were worried he might snap in the middle of the night," Keehnen said. On Sunday, they called police several times as Shipley's delusional behavior continued. He yelled at them, grabbed their two dogs away from them and banged on the front door, Keehnen said. There were firearms inside the home. Shipley's girlfriend had hoped to evict him and to get him some help. When officers arrived the third time, Shipley had locked himself inside and his girlfriend was outside. Because they could not contact him and he had made no direct threats, the officers said they couldn't arrest Shipley. "I feel like they really could have done more and it didn't have to end in this type of situation," Keehnen said. "We did not think it was going to end this way. We thought we were going to call the police, have them peacefully remove him from the home. "I don't see why they were not able to do anything whatsoever with anything. We gave them everything they needed to do something." George said he believes that leaving Shipley alone at that time was the right decision, as forcing entry could have escalated the situation. "If anything, their (the officers') de-escalation probably prevented something from happening on Sunday," George said. "I think their actions on Sunday prevented something from happening on Sunday into Monday." But on Monday, Shipley started making direct threats. His sister arrived from New York, hoping to calm him down. He gave her one of the guns and a large knife. She fled the home with them and called police, telling them there were more firearms inside. A SWAT team, negotiators and mental health counselors arrived at Argyle Court and evacuated nearby houses. Officials stayed in touch with Shipley through phone calls and text messages for 19 hours until about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, when a shift change began. That's when officers reportedly heard the first gunshot inside the home. "First thing we're thinking is, 'He killed himself. He ended this thing,'" George said. But snipers positioned on a nearby rooftop saw him still moving inside the home. Police later said they suspect Shipley had shot one of the family's two dogs, whose body was found in a different part of the home. Two minutes later, the garage door rolled up partway. Police said Shipley fired a single shot from the hunting rifle while prone on the garage floor. Where that shot went and who saw or heard it is still being investigated by Oregon State Police, the lead agency on the Major Assault and Death Investigation Unit. Seven officers returned fire. Shipley died at the scene. The officers have been put on paid administrative leave until a grand jury decides whether the shooting was justified. George said the officers had no alternative to firing on Shipley. The bullet from the high-powered rifle Shipley used would penetrate through the type of protective vests the officers wear and failing to stop him then could have meant that he would "walk out on the porch or driveway and start shooting people." "That's why we did what we did," he said. George said his department trains for incidents such as Tuesday's standoff and has been using crisis-intervention techniques frequently, as officers have been faced with mental health calls of an "epidemic proportion." In January  through February alone, he said, the department responded to 108 suicide and attempted suicide calls, and mental health related calls overall were up by more than 25 percent over each of the previous two years. "The amount of time and energy those calls take, it really stretches us," George said, adding that his department relies on and has a strong working relationship with mental health workers at Jackson County and elsewhere in the community. Staying in communication with people in crisis is key, he said. Officers often talk to them about anything but the crisis at hand until they're calm and ready. He said it works most times. "We've had pretty good success with talking people out. Not this one, unfortunately," George said. Keehnen said Shipley's girlfriend and daughter are still shaken by Tuesday's shooting, but that they're all trying to push forward. "We're just going to try and move on and deal with this," Keehnen said. Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil . By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 20, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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