Authorities in Oregon have issued dozens of serious charges to a truck driver accused of firing on other vehicles on I-5.
Kenneth Ayers, 49, is currently facing 29 charges in connection with seven interstate shootings — one charge of attempted murder, one charge of second degree assault, 13 counts of recklessly endangering, seven counts of second degree criminal mischief, and seven counts of unlawful use of a weapon.
He was lodged in the Jackson County Jail on a $1 million bond.
Ayers was arrested around 11 p.m. on August 20 following an investigation spearheaded by the Oregon State Police into a string of shootings that occurred on I-5 in Douglas, Josephine, and Jackson Counties dating back to May 2020.
Ayers was particularly connected, troopers say, to an August 19 shooting that occurred on I-5 at mile marker 37 in Jackson County that sent a woman to the hospital. She has since been released.
During the course of the investigation into the serial shootings, Oregon State Police began to suspect that a UPS truck was involved.
Soon after the August 19 shooting, troopers were reportedly able to locate a UPS truck approximately 60 miles north of the shooting site and executed a search warrant on the truck and trailer driven by Ayers.
Ayers was arrested after troopers found a firearm consistent with the type used in the I-5 shootings in his truck.
UPS has issued the following statement on the shootings: “We are appalled to hear about these allegations and are fully cooperating with the responding authorities. Firearms are prohibited at UPS facilities and in our vehicles. We are extremely concerned for the motorists and other individuals who have been affected.”
Investigators say that they have not ruled out the possibility of other shootings that are connected to Ayers and they encourage the public to continue to contact Oregon State Police if they believe they came under fire.