On May 29, 2026, at approximately 2:53 a.m., officers from the Klamath Falls Police Department responded to the 500 block of Market Street following a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers located an adult male lying on the ground suffering from what appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was transported to Sky Lakes Medical Center for treatment, but later died from his injuries.
The Klamath County Major Crime Team was activated and assumed responsibility for the investigation. The Klamath County Major Crime Team is comprised of detectives from the Klamath Falls Police Department, Oregon State Police, the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office, and the Klamath County District Attorney’s Office.
During the course of the investigation, detectives identified the shooter as 84-year-old John Bush. Initial information indicated that the victim was attempting to break into Bush’s vehicle when he was confronted, resulting in a brief altercation that led to the shooting.
As the investigation progressed, detectives conducted additional interviews and reviewed surveillance footage from the area. As a result, detectives uncovered discrepancies between Bush’s initial account of the event and what the evidence collected during the investigation revealed.
Based on the findings of the investigation, John Bush was arrested and lodged at the Klamath County Jail on charges of Manslaughter in the First Degree and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. The investigation remains ongoing.