First, I hope the shot fired was a warning shot (in the dark), not a miss. I'm somewhat unsettled about another incident that happened, where an 18 year old near the coast was shot and killed in the dark. Incidents in the dark are worst-case law-enforcement scenarios: when a light is shined in one's eyes (and most law enforcement flashlights have tactical-strength lumens, designed to momentarily blind a suspect, but these flashlights are also available to 'civilians'), and - even if the person/persons shining the light identify themselves as peace officers - how can one be sure such is the case? Dropping one's defensive weapon could increase vulnerability to forced robbery, possible assault, or worse. Luckily, in the Deadwood case, no death resulted (the article on the coast killing stated that the officers involved had prior shooting incidents; hopefully they're not trigger-happy, but responded per SWAT training - though I still find shooting someone in the back unsettling, as this type of shooting never was addressed in my Marine Corps experience).

How does a convicted felon with warrants out for his arrest get his hands on an assault rifle? Could it be because, in Oregon, you don't need a background check, paperwork, or even ID to purchase a gun in a private sale?? It's just cash-and-carry, no questions asked.