Donald Surrett Jr., the man who died while trying to stop gunman Ethan Blair Miller‘s shooting rampage at the Safeway grocery store in Bend on Sunday, was convicted of child sex crimes while in the Army decades ago, AP reported.
As per the military and Oregon State Police records, Surrett pleaded guilty to two counts each of carnal knowledge and indecent acts while he was serving in the US Army in 1994, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported. Surrett was sentenced to 10 years in prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He was 38 at the time, and served 26 years in the military.
US Army spokeswoman Madison Bonzo said he was demoted from sergeant first class to private following the conviction. He, however, did not serve the entire sentence, and moved to Oregon in the early 2000s.
Information from state court records and the Oregon State Police’s sex offender registry indicates Surrett did not reoffend after his prison release, and law enforcement considered him a Level 1 offender, the lowest classification in the state and an indication he was not considered a high risk for reoffense.
On Sunday, the 66-year-old attacked the gunman in the produce section of the store and attempted to disarm him. His decision cost him his life but likely saved the lives of others.
Sheila Miller, a Bend Police Department spokeswoman, told OPB that police learned of Surrett’s criminal history as they investigated the shooting.
“Mr. Surrett’s background does not change the fact that in this instance, when faced with great peril, he acted heroically in attacking and attempting to disarm an active shooter in his place of work,” Miller said.
“While Mr. Surrett’s past may complicate how people feel about his legacy, his actions in the moment were courageous and for those actions, he deserves praise.”
