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Ritzville homicide suspect arrested after shootout with law enforcement in Oregon
PORTLAND, Ore. - A man wanted in connection with the shooting death of his father in Ritzville remained in the Multnomah County Inverness Jail on Tuesday morning, booked on several charges.
Grayson D.W. Morris, 26, is being held without bail on charges of first-degree robbery with a firearm, attempting to elude by vehicle, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, reckless driving, reckless endangerment, and four counts each of unlawful use of a weapon and first-degree attempted murder.
According to court records, Morris was arrested following a high-speed chase on Interstate 84 last Thursday morning, just hours after he shot and killed his father in Ritzville, where he is expected to face additional charges following extradition.
Additional charges may be pending in Hood River County, where Morris shot at law enforcement officers.
Morris is also on probation for a 2018 domestic violence case, records show.
The incident began at 5:39 a.m. Thursday after Adams County dispatchers received a call of shots fired at a 109 W. Seventh St., Ritzville, home, records show.
Douglas Morris was subsequently found dead in the home.
Following the shooting, Morris fled the area, heading south to Oregon in a stolen, white SUV, then west on Interstate 84, records show.
While on the interstate, Hood River law enforcement spotted the stolen vehicle driven by Morris and attempted to stop him, records show. They deployed spike strips and used the PIT maneuver to briefly halt the chase.
According to records, Morris ran out of gas in the stolen vehicle.
The Multnomah County, Ore., Sheriff's Office reported that he exchanged gunfire there with Oregon State Police in Hood River County, before carjacking another vehicle and fleeing.
According to court records, a driver told detectives he had pulled over to let police pass. While stopped, a man with a rifle - later identified as Morris - approached and forced him from the car and stole it.
Records show the chase resumed on the interstate at speeds in excess of 100 mph, records show.
Morris was stopped near Milepost 18, where he fired on law enforcement officers, records show. State police returned fire and hit Morris, records show. Officers administered first aid at the scene until the suspect could be taken to an area hospital, where he was treated and then transferred to the county jail at 11540 N.E. Inverness Drive.
Westbound Interstate 84 was closed for at least 10 hours while detectives investigated multiple crime scenes, records show.
Oregon law enforcement officers who fired their weapons were placed on administrative leave, as is customary.
According to Ritzville Police Chief Dave McCormick, a request for extradition will need to be made by Governor Inslee, after Morris refused extradition when asked in court.
"The sheriff said he refused the extradition, so they have to get a governor's request for extradition," McCormick said. "The process takes time, but I've never heard of a governor's warrant not being approved."
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