A man accused of pistol-whipping unhoused people in downtown Eugene was arrested early Friday, Oct. 2, after police responded to a report of several men assaulting the unhoused as a group.
The Eugene Police Department (EPD) was called at 2:25 a.m. to East 10th Avenue and Oak Alley for a report that a group of men was assaulting an unhoused person at the stairs by the elevator at the Overpark parking garage. One of the suspects was reported to have a gun.
Police located a victim with a large injury to the back of his head. A witness told officers the suspect, identified as 22-year-old Eugene resident Jairo Jesus Hernandez-Avila, appeared intoxicated and was reportedly striking the victim with the handle of his gun, while two other men surrounded him, creating a barrier. Hernandez-Avila reportedly dropped the firearm repeatedly, but his friends encouraged him to continue…