Springfield PD: Man shoots stolen gun during race-fueled fight
SPRINGFIELD, Ore. -- A man was arrested for shooting a stolen gun into the air early Saturday morning during a "race-related" fight between several white and black men, Springfield Police said.
At around 2 a.m. Saturday, police responded to a call about a fight involving numerous subjects near V Street and Shadylane Street in Springfield.
Witnesses told police that the fight was initially a race-related dispute that turned physical, involving several black and white males.
Neighboring tenants told officers that they could hear people yelling "white power", police said.
An officer reported hearing a gunshot as he approached the area of the reported fight.
When he arrived at the scene the officer reported seeing numerous people fleeing the area. The officer spotted one man trying to conceal something in his waistband, police said.
Police detained the man, identified as Jefferey David Braden, 22 of Springfield, and found a stolen .22 pistol in his pants.
Witnesses confirmed that Braden fired the gun into the air during the dispute. Officials said that no one was hurt by the gunshot.
Braden was arrested on multiple charges, including theft (for the stolen gun), recklessly endangering another, unlawful use of a firearm and possession of methamphetamine.
Anyone with information about the fight is asked to call Officer Lane at the Springfield Police Department at (541) 726-3714.
You think he would have just whipped out his gun. Why would he actually shoot it, to attract attention?
I guess we all "cant just get along"... Rodney had it right...
stupid!
Oh sheesh. What a bunch of chest-beating, pissing contest nonsense. And DON'T shoot into the air you freakin idiot! It DOES come back down and it CAN kill someone!
Another gun in the wrong hands.
 @Baldr Odinson Yep. A stolen gun. But tell me about how making more laws will stop the lawbreakers. :)
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Just another racist inbred pretending to be an American.
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 @CensorshipISkval'specialty Maybe it was the blatant way you put it? I would have deleted your comment too had it been up to me as your comment certainly sounded racist .
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Next time think before you hit "post comment".
Am I just being crazy or is there something seriously wrong with men between the ages of 16 and 26? Seems most of the madness that's coming down lately falls into this age group. Wish we could box 'em all up and send 'em away. Maybe it's testosterone poisoning.Â
 @the buttcut I'm not sure if you remember the Olympia Beer slogan of long past: "It's the water that makes it". I'm not sure if the water can be blamed for what's going on, but there seems to be a lot more stupidity and violence of late attributed to something.
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Part of it is lack of accountability people have now. Maybe they should bring back the WPA and CCC Camps of the 1930's and put young adults to work doing something constructive for society. Then they'd be to tired to raise any ruckus after a hard day of honest work.
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and yet another stolen gun. and some fool doing something stupid with it!! i say cut his shooting hand off! and give him a tatoo on his forhead saying i am stupid!
He should go to prison for shooting a gun in the air.
and what do we do with these idiots, just let them go again it has to cost a lot to re-arrest them over and over and over
 @censoredirawoody This is one of those situations where it might be better to charge the individual on lesser charges that will get him sent to Springfield's City Jail for 52 weeks opposed to being convicted of more serious offenses and cut loose in a week due to Lane County budget restraints. Personally I'd prefer to see the bad guys off the streets for at least a year instead of at most a week.
 @censoredirawoody the now imaginary sheriff's work camp would at least offer some detox.
@censoredirawoody Actually, the police are used to it. They re-arrest the same people over and over and EVENTUALLY some judge decides to send them to the pen instead of just providing a shower opportunity in the local jail. The only difference of late is that they are kept a few weeks less in the local jail.   There are several times where several members of the same family are going at the same time...one in juvie probation, one in juvie custody, one in county jail, one on felony probation, one in the pen and a couple on parole from the pen. Parents, Grandparents, siblings, cousins....they breed and they steal.
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 @RandomNumbers I'm sure that was it: "He was just protecting himself" with a "warning shot" with a gun he had recently stolen from someone else who had just stolen it for the same reason. Sounds logical to me.
@RandomNumbers Actually, this is more like watching football; the 2nd guy always draws the flag.  Somebody said "Run!" and he thought they said "Gun!"Â
Talk about the fast and stupid....=) no bail for you