Klamath Falls man wielding knife at police is shot, dies

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - A Klamath Falls man is shot by police after charging at them with a knife during a response to a fight at the White House Apartments. The Klamath County Major Crime Team investigates.

Officers with the Klamath Falls Police Department responded to a fight involving a knife at the White House Apartments (224 South Broad Street) at approximately 8:35 PM on August 4, 2022.

According to the initial call, one person was injured and the involved parties were separated.

Upon arrival, uniformed officers attempted contact with the injured victim outside the complex. That is when, the suspected assailant, Matthew Vaughan, charged at the officers while wielding a knife. Officers commanded Vaughn to stop and drop the knife, but he refused to obey those commands.

Perceived to be an imminent threat, officers fired their service weapon upon Vaughan.

Immediate life-saving measures were rendered, but Vaughan succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

No law enforcement officers were physically harmed in this incident.

The Klamath County Major Crime Team was immediately activated and the investigation is ongoing. The Klamath County District Attorney anticipates the grand jury will review the incident in the near future.

Per investigative protocol, the officers involved have been placed on paid administrative leave and will be named at a later time.