8 Hour Standoff Ends With Rescue of 2-Year Old Child

The identities of the adult female shooting victim and her 2-year old child are being withheld at this time, pending notification of her family.

Photo and video by Jerry Freeman Salem-News.com

(TURNER, Or) - A 2-year old girl is safe and a Turner man is in custody following an 8-hour stand-off with law enforcement personnel on Friday night.

Responding to the report of a domestic disturbance, two Turner Police Officers arrived at an apartment complex in the 7300 block of Third Street SE, about 9:30pm. Shortly after arriving, they encountered a man and woman descending the stairs from a second story apartment. The officers tried to speak with the couple, but the man immediately drew a gun and fired several shots in the direction of the officers. Both took cover and did not return fire. Neither was hit by the bullets. At the same time, the woman tried to run away from the man, but she was struck by his gunfire and fell to the ground.

The man ran up the stairs into the second floor apartment. Marion County Sheriff's Deputies responded to the call for assistance from the Turner Officers and set up a perimeter around the building. The female was pronounced dead at the scene.

The suspect remained in the apartment where he held the child hostage for the next 8 hours.

Law enforcement personnel from numerous agencies responded to assist with this investigation. SWAT teams from Marion County Sheriff's Office, the Salem Police Department, and the Oregon State Police teamed up to each take 4-hour shifts to maintain the perimeter security in the 30 degree temperatures.

Salem Police & Marion County hostage negotiators spent several hours talking and texting with the suspect trying to convince him to release his hostage.

Residents of the apartment complex were evacuated by SWAT team members. The Turner Fire District opened their main fire station to serve as a command post and to provide shelter for the evacuated residents.

By 5:30am, the negotiations had not resulted in the suspect's surrender. Shortly after, Salem SWAT team members made a tactical entry into the apartment and took the suspect into custody and rescued the child.

The suspect is identified as Dustin Michael Bryant, 24. He suffered a minor injury during the arrest and was treated at the Salem Hospital before being booked into the Marion County Jail. The charges are pending at this time. A booking photo will be added later today.

The identities of the adult female shooting victim and her 2-year old child are being withheld at this time, pending notification of her family.

The names of the Salem Officers involved in the apartment rescue are also being withheld at this time.

The HART (Homicide Assault Response Team) was called in to conduct the investigation. The team is comprised of experienced investigators from several local police agencies.

Further information will be released as the investigation unfolds.

News Release from Marion Co. Sheriff's Office

Here is video from the scene by Salem-News.com's Jerry Freeman:

Jerry Freeman is part of a new generation of dedicated news photographers who entered the Internet news industry as a second career. He shares in common with many people who fulfilled their life dream of becoming a visual journalist. Joining the Navy at an early age, and the Oregon Army Guard a few years later, Jerry has a wide range of life experiences. He describes himself as “a truck driver with a new found passion to bear witness to the world’s events.”

Teaming up with Salem-News.com he embarked on a new career as a video news photographer and reporter. Jerry's quick exhibition of natural talent and ability to shoot breaking news led to his becoming a published member of the Salem-News.com team. You can write to Jerry Freeman at: videoshooter@live.com