Police arrested a Lebanon man on charges related to a shooting that occurred behind Duffy’s Bar on Oct. 31 at about about 2:31 a.m.
Lebanon police detectives arrested James Michael Nordahl, 36, on Jan. 7 on charges of first degree assault, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon, and reckless endangerment. The district attorney filed additional charges of two counts of second degree assault. Bail is set at $150,000.
Lebanon Police Department reported that an investigation revealed the incident began with a disturbance inside Duffy’s Bar regarding a potential firearm in someone’s possession. Because of this, the bartender asked two patrons to leave the establishment. After exiting the bar, a confrontation ensued between Nordahl and the individuals who had been asked to leave earlier.
During the confrontation, Nordahl admitted to retrieving a firearm from his vehicle and firing at the individuals involved. He stated that he did not fire the first shot, but claimed to have returned fire after observing muzzle flashes, though he was unable to identify who had shot at him. According to Nordahl, he fired multiple rounds in the direction of the other group, advancing toward their location and continuing to fire as they fled until his firearm was empty.
Officers who responded to the original scene located an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound to the abdomen. The victim was semi-conscious, bleeding heavily, and unable to provide many details beyond stating that he had been hit by a bullet during an argument
when the shooting started. The victim was transported to Lebanon Community Hospital and later transferred to Good Samaritan Hospital where he underwent multiple surgeries. He remained hospitalized for more than a month due to the severity of his injuries. Nordahl himself
sustained a gunshot wound to the foot during the incident.
Following the shooting, Nordahl left the scene and did not contact law enforcement until approximately 12 hours later, after a relative informed a patrol unit near Nordahl’s residence that he needed to speak with officers. Nordahl was cooperative, providing multiple statements during the investigation and consenting to the collection of his firearm as evidence.
Detectives conducted extensive interviews with witnesses and involved parties, many of whom admitted to being intoxicated at the time of the incident. Statements from witnesses varied significantly, and none were able to positively identify the individuals who had fired shots.
Detectives also conducted area canvasses, reviewed surrounding surveillance footage, and executed multiple search warrants during the investigation. The Linn County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the effort.
The investigation remains active and ongoing. Detectives are currently seeking to locate and interview an additional witness who has not been reachable since the incident. Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact Detective Timothy Trahan at 541.258.4318 or Detective Sergeant Jeremy Weber at 541.258.4342.