Oregon State Police (OSP) have arrested a man who they believe is behind a string of shootings that took place on a busy interstate.
On Friday, OSP announced that they placed 49 year old Kenneth Ayers under arrest in connection with a series of shootings that took place on I-5 stretching back to May 2020.
OSP say 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.
OSP also believes that Ayers was involved 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.
Ayers was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail.
OSP say that the investigation is ongoing and they still want to hear from drivers who think that they may be been targeted on I-5:
We would still like anyone with information regarding any of these investigations to contact the Oregon State Police. Previous to May Mr. Ayers route was north of Roseburg and beginning in May his route took him south of Roseburg. Ayers route also took him on Hwy 140 and Hwy 62.
UPS has fully cooperated with this investigation from the beginning, troopers say.