COOS BAY, Ore. — A quiet Sunday afternoon turned tragic on December 28 when 39-year-old David Orr was shot and killed in the parking lot of the Staples store on Newmark Avenue in Coos Bay. What started as routine errands ended in heartbreak for family, friends, and witnesses, police said.
Around 1:55 p.m., the North Coos 911 Center began receiving frantic calls about gunfire in the Staples parking lot at 1995 Newmark Ave. Officers from the Coos Bay Police Department raced to the scene and found Orr with gunshot wounds. Despite efforts by responding officers and medical teams to save him, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Witnesses at the scene played a key role in the early stages of the investigation. Several people gave police a detailed description of a suspect’s vehicle and even a license plate number. That tip would prove crucial in helping law enforcement track down the person believed to be responsible.
Less than ten minutes after the shooting, a North Bend Police Department officer spotted a vehicle matching the description near 33rd Street and Vine Avenue. Coos Bay officers joined the search and located the car parked outside a residence. Two people were detained shortly after and the suspected shooter was taken into custody without incident.
The Coos County Major Crime Team has taken over the investigation, and officials say it remains active as detectives work to piece together exactly what happened that day. The suspect’s name has not yet been released; authorities said it won’t be made public until after their arraignment later this week.
At this time, the suspect is being held at the Coos County Jail on unrelated charges, and no formal charges connected to the shooting have been announced. Police urge the community to avoid speculation and to rely only on official updates as the case unfolds.
In a brief statement, police expressed condolences to Orr’s family and thanked multiple agencies for their swift, coordinated response — including North Bend officers, Oregon State Police, tribal partners, and emergency medical responders who arrived within minutes of the 911 calls.
As Coos Bay grapples with the loss of a local man, investigators continue to interview witnesses and gather evidence. Community members are encouraged to contact authorities if they saw anything that could help with the case.
