Dozens of charges pile up against truck driver in I-5 shooting spree

A truck driver has been indicted on dozens of counts related to a rash of interstate shootings that took place on I-5 in Oregon earlier this year.

Forty-nine year old truck driver Kenneth Alan Ayers was indicted on Thursday by a Jackson County Grand Jury on multiple counts, which include three counts of second degree attempted murder, one count of second degree assault, eight counts of unlawful use of a weapon, two counts of first degree criminal mischief, 14 counts of reckless endangerment and six counts of second degree criminal mischief, according to a December 10 announcement from the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office.

Ayers was arrested on August 20, 2020, in connection with a series of shootings that took place on I-5 stretching back to May 2020.

OSP said shortly after the arrest that Ayers has been particularly connected to the August 19 shooting of a female driving on I-5 at mile marker 37 in Jackson County, Oregon. The driver was struck and injured.

Ayers is also accused in other shootings on I-5 occurring on May 12 in Josephine County, June 2 in Jackson County, June 15 in Douglas County, June 22 in Josephine County, July 7 in Douglas County, and July 9 in Josephine County.

Troopers say that during the course of the investigation into the string of shootings, they began to suspect that a UPS truck was involved.

Soon after the August 19 shooting, troopers were reportedly able to locate a UPS tractor trailer combination approximately 60 miles north of the shooting site.

During the course of the investigation, the truck driven by Ayers was seized. UPS arranged for another truck to pick up the trailers he was hauling. A search warrant was applied for and served. The search of the truck revealed a firearm consistent with the type used in the I-5 shootings.