EUGENE, Ore. -- Officers were justified in using deadly force against a suicidal subject who fired at deputies Monday and against a suspect who rammed his truck into a police car Thursday, according to the Lane County District Attorney.

BACKGROUND: Monday's shooting | Thursday's shooting

Doug Harcleroad, Lane County's district attorney, said in a press release that the shooting of Nathan Dix by Lane County Sheriff's Deputies last Monday and the shooting of Michael Wayne Wesley Jr. by Springfield police on Thursday were justifiable uses of deadly force.

Harcleroad made his findings based upon the investigations of the new Interagency Deadly Force Investigations Team, which coincidentally took effect on MOnday, the same day deputies exchanged fire with Dix.

The team was mandated by the 2007 Legislature to provide a consistent response to situations where officers use deadly force.

The team is a cooperative venture of Oregon State Police, the Lane County Sheriff's Office, the Springfield Police Department and the Eugene Police Department.

Monday's incident
Nathan Dix, 31, pointed a firearm in the direction of the deputies who were responding to an emergency call about a troubled suspect. As the deputies were directing Dix to put the firearm down, Dix fired the firearm toward the deputies, according to the sheriff's office.

Deputy Greg Jones and Deputy Todd Olson returned fire, striking Dix.

Dix was given immediate on-scene medical aid by deputies until an ambulance arrived. He was transported to Sacred Heart Medical Center where he was treated for his injuries.

Thursday's incident

Police worked through the night to locate two suspects in the drive-by shooting death of Wendy Jo Whitaker, who was found shot to death behind the wheel of her car on E Street in Springfield.

Ronald Joshua Smith, 27, was taken into custody Wednesday night and charged with murder

Officers watched several locations for a second suspect, Michael Wayne Wesley Jr., 27, who police believed took part in Wednesday's drive-by shooting.

Thursday morning at 10:53 a.m., officers spotted Wesley arriving at 1125 Hayden Bridge Road. Detectives in a marked Springfield police car attempted to contact Wesley.

Wesley rammed the marked car and a second unmarked car with his Ford Ranger pickup, pinning Officer Robert Weaver between the door and the frame of one of the cars.

Weaver, a 10-year veteran of the Springfield Police Department, fired his gun at Smith. Larry Turner, a 5-year veteran of the force, also fired.

Wesley was hit multiple times but managed to drive two blocks across front yards before crashing into a brick wall at the corner of 10th Street and Hayden Bridge. The unmarked police car followed him.