GRANTS PASS, Ore. — A 43-year-old Grants Pass woman was shot and killed by police Saturday afternoon after officers responded to multiple reports of a person firing guns in the roadway, authorities said. The incident occurred in a busy part of the city and led to the closure of nearby streets as law enforcement secured the scene and began an investigation.
According to the Grants Pass Police Department and Oregon State Police, officers were called around 12:30 p.m. to the area of Grants Pass Parkway and M Street. Multiple 911 callers reported a woman standing in the roadway and firing handguns. Officers arrived and located the woman armed with a firearm, investigators said.
Authorities said officers gave repeated verbal commands for the woman to drop the weapon. Those commands were ignored, officials said. Police then fired their department-issued weapons, striking the woman. Emergency medical personnel responded, and the woman was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment.
The woman was identified as Alicia Shelton, 43, of Grants Pass. Shelton was pronounced dead at the hospital. Officials confirmed that no officers or bystanders were injured during the incident. Investigators remained on scene for several hours, documenting evidence and interviewing witnesses.
Following the shooting, the Josephine County Major Crimes Team was activated, and the investigation was turned over to Oregon State Police, which is leading the case. The Oregon State Police Crime Lab responded to process the scene. The officers involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave, a standard procedure in officer-involved shootings while the investigation is ongoing.
In the hours after the incident, numerous social media posts believed to belong to Shelton began circulating online, with some appearing to reference mental health struggles. Authorities have not confirmed whether those posts are directly related to the events leading up to the shooting. The Josephine County District Attorney’s Office is expected to review the findings and release additional information as the investigation continues.
