Gresham Police Officers Were Justified in Shooting Death of Man

Two Gresham Police Officers who used deadly force while responding to a domestic violence were justified in doing so, a grand jury ruled.

Officers Kevin Carlson and Gavin Sasser shot and killed Bodhi Phelps on May 24 when they responded to a 911 call of a woman being forced into a vehicle.

Phelps, who was armed with knives, confronted the officers.

Witnesses told the the grand jury that Phelps threatened to stab the officers and refused to drop his knives.

Each officer fired six times. Phelps was struck 11 times.

The grand jury, made up of seven Multnomah County residents, heard from 17 witnesses over two days.