La Grande Police Department officers are still investigating an incident on Nov. 7, 2024 in which two men were allegedly assaulted and six people arrested, including a suspect who barricaded himself inside a house on T Avenue.

LA GRANDE — A reported assault inside a house on La Grande’s T Street in the early morning of Thursday, Nov. 7, ended with two people injured, a barricaded suspect eventually surrendering to authorities and six arrests, the La Grande Police Department reported.

A news release from La Grande police identified the two men facing the most serious charges as Joshua Lucius, 24, La Grande, and Tory Marshall, 35, who recently relocated from Idaho to La Grande.

Lucius has been charged with assault, kidnapping, robbery, menacing, criminal conspiracy, coercion and unlawful use of a weapon. He is lodged in the Union County Jail, La Grande.

Marshall was taken into custody on a felony warrant from Idaho’s Commission of Pardons and Parole. Additional charges are pending, the news release said.

The incident closed an area around North Fir Street and T Avenue for hours as police negotiated with Marshall, who barricaded himself into the house at 1325 T Ave. and later, as police processed the scene for evidence. All roads reopened shortly after 9:30 p.m. Nov 7, police said.

The news release offered this account of the incident:

At about 4:26 a.m. Nov. 7, La Grande Police Department officers responded to a report of an assault near North Fir Street and T Avenue. Upon arrival, officers learned that two La Grande residents, Michael McClune-Smith, 29, and his father, Shaun Smith, 46, had been assaulted by numerous individuals.

Preliminary investigation revealed that hours before officers arrived, McClune-Smith was involved in a verbal altercation with several individuals inside the residence at 1325 T Ave. The altercation escalated, police said, leading to an assault on McClune-Smith by Lucius and Marshall.

The press release said McClune-Smith was assaulted on the main floor of the residence and then forcibly taken to the basement and confined him for several hours while Lucius, Marshall and others assaulted him numerous times with fists, a wooden club and a metal pipe.

McClune-Smith was eventually released by an uninvolved individual inside the residence, the press release said. 

At some point, Shaun Smith, concerned about the safety of a friend of McClune-Smith’s, went to the house. The press release said Shaun Smith was surrounded, and Marshall allegedly struck him with a wooden club over and over. Smith suffered minor injuries, after which he, McClune-Smith and the friend left the house and notified law enforcement. 

McClune-Smith suffered injuries to his face, head, hands, torso and knees. An ambulance took him to Grande Ronde Hospital, La Grande. Additional information on his condition was not immediately available.

Shaun Smith suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene.

Barricaded subject

Officers secured the residence at 1325 T Ave. while investigators gathered additional information and obtained a search warrant. It was determined at least nine individuals were inside, including Lucius and Marshall.

Marshall was found to have a felony parole warrant from Idaho, which included warnings of violent tendencies and a history of battery and firearm possession. Investigators received information, including from Marshall’s parole officer, that he had recently made threats to attack police officers and engage in a deadly confrontation with law enforcement. Individuals close to Marshall reported he likely was armed with a firearm.

At about 11:55 a.m. Nov. 7, officers began ordering occupants to exit the residence. Shortly after 1 p.m., nine individuals complied, including Lucius, who was taken into custody and transported to the Union County Jail. Marshall remained barricaded inside.

Members of the Northeast Oregon Regional and Oregon State Police SWAT teams responded to the scene.

During the standoff, 58-year-old Joan Pehrson and 21-year-old Amelia Hunt, both of La Grande, entered the secured area at separate times, adding risk and operational challenges for officers, the press release said. They reportedly ignored repeated warnings to maintain a safe distance and were arrested for interfering.

Efforts to communicate with Marshall were successful, and an agreement for his peaceful surrender was negotiated. Marshall was taken into custody and transported to the jail.

Following his surrender, officers arrested 50-year-old Tyson Hancock and 21-year-old Cassidy Pehrson, both of La Grande, for interfering with a peace officer due to their refusal to exit the residence as instructed.

In all, 12 individuals were removed from the residence, and investigators began processing the scene for evidence.

La Grande Police Chief Gary Bell expressed gratitude for the support and cooperation of the community and the department’s partner agencies: the Union County Sheriff’s Office, the Oregon State Police, the Union County District Attorney’s Office, the La Grande Fire Department and La Grande Public Works.

The investigation continues, and additional charges are expected, the press release said. Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact La Grande Police Department detectives at 541-963-1017.