Eugene Police Department arrests 42-year-old man after allegedly pointing gun at drivers, firing shots

Eugene, OR – A 42-year-old man was arrested after police said he pointed a gun at multiple drivers and was involved in reports of gunshots in western Eugene.

Around 7:30 p.m. Aug. 29, police received a 911 call reporting a single gunshot in the area of East 16th Avenue and Quaker Street.

While officers responded to that location, a second caller from several blocks away reported that a man driving a silver Subaru had pointed a gun at him and his passenger as they arrived home.

A third caller then reported hearing two gunshots and seeing the Subaru parked in the middle of the street in front of the caller’s home.

The Subaru slowly drove away, and the caller followed it in his own vehicle. The Subaru eventually stopped in the middle of the street several blocks away.

As the caller drove past the Subaru, the driver allegedly pointed a gun at him.

A nearby witness provided police with the Subaru’s license plate number, allowing officers to locate the vehicle near West 11th Avenue and Acorn Street.

Police conducted a high-risk traffic stop and pinned the vehicle.

The driver was identified as Christopher Carl Herrera, 42, of Eugene.

Herrera initially complied with officers’ commands, but police said he repeatedly began reaching inside the vehicle after being ordered to keep his hands outside the window.

Officers struck Herrera in the forearm with a less-lethal munition. Police said Herrera then placed both hands back inside the vehicle, prompting officers to deploy pepper balls into the vehicle.

Herrera eventually exited the Subaru and was taken into custody.

Police said Herrera had a strong odor of alcohol and slurred speech. He also admitted to consuming approximately a dozen alcoholic beverages.

Herrera was booked into the Lane County Jail on charges of unlawful use of a weapon, three counts of menacing and DUII.