A Lebanon man committed suicide Tuesday evening, July 15, after his mother was found bloodied on Washburn Heights Drive, outside of Lebanon.
According to Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan, Sheriff’s dispatchers received a 9-1-1 call at 8:41 p.m. reporting that a female was lying in the road with blood on her head.
Washburn Heights Drive leads to the top of a hill that is frequented by the public for the view overlooking the Willamette Valley.
Deputies responded to the area and found an elderly female with blood on her face, hands, arms and knees. Deputies learned from witnesses her son, Oliver Mercer, 67, of Lebanon, was at the top of Washburn Heights Drive and was reported to be suicidal.
Deputies began to drive up to the viewpoint at the top of the hill, when they encountered Mercer driving back down towards them. Deputies stopped and contacted Mercer in his vehicle and saw he had a bottle of alcohol between his legs, Duncan said, adding that Mercer then displayed a pistol and held it to his head.
The Sheriff said deputies began attempts at de-escalating the situation, which was overheard by several witnesses, but Mercer would not cooperate and drove away from the scene.
Deputies and multiple other law enforcement agencies responded to the area in pursuit. Mercer attempted to elude law enforcement, driving toward Lebanon, where he struck two law enforcement vehicles and continued to attempt to elude.
With the help of Oregon State Police, Mercer’s vehicle was safely redirected to the ditch near the intersection of Denney School Road and Highway 34, Duncan said. As law enforcement began to surround Mercer, he fired one round to his head, resulting in life-threatening injuries, she said.
Mercer was transported by paramedics to Corvallis Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, but died from his self-inflicted injuries. Mercer’s mother was transported to Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Linn County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate the event to include the initial report regarding the female, her injuries, and Mercer’s actions leading up to the incident. It’s likely additional witnesses were in the area and have information on this incident.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective Scott Tennant (541) 967-3950.
Linn County Sheriff’s Office was assisted during the incident by Oregon State Police, Albany Police Department, Corvallis Police Department, Lebanon Police Department, Brownsville Rural Fire District and Lebanon Fire District.