Everett Scott Fuller, 57, took the stand Wednesday in a Lane County murder trial that follows a deadlocked first jury. Fuller testified that he fired his pistol in self‑defense after a heated confrontation with Christopher “Bubba” Clark Jr., 32, at the Packing Shed on Prindel Creek Farm.
Ex‑wife’s testimony
Christine Fuller, who divorced Everett earlier this year, described the events leading up to the shooting. She said the incident occurred about five minutes after Fuller entered the shed while a group was playing darts. The shed, part of a rural property about 25 miles east of Yachats in the Oregon Coast Range, serves as a recreation space for residents who rent or work on the farm.
According to Christine, she, Clark, her friend Amy Jewett and Tyler Holloway were in the shed when Fuller climbed to an elevated platform roughly six feet high and sat in a wheeled office chair. She recalled loud voices but no yelling, and said she felt uncomfortable and considered leaving. As she walked toward the exit, gunshots rang out.
Christine testified she saw Clark on the floor, “obviously shot,” and observed Fuller descending from the loft. She said Fuller fired three or four additional shots in the back of the room. Afterward, Holloway shouted, “He’s out of bullets,” and several people moved toward Clark, tackling him. Christine attempted to disarm Fuller but was unable to do so.
Prosecution and defense positions
Deputy District Attorney Nicholas Geil asked Judge Charles Zennaché to allow jurors to consider a lesser‑included manslaughter charge, though jury instructions have not yet been finalized. The prosecution rested its case after Christine’s testimony.
Fuller’s defense attorney Willow Hillman questioned Lane County Sheriff’s Office detective Michael Hudson, who testified that investigators found no evidence of more than three shots fired in the room, matching the medical examiner’s finding that Clark was shot three times.
Fuller’s own account
Fuller explained that he carried a pistol on the farm after discovering unfamiliar live ammunition in his vehicle, which he said was not his. He claimed he did not know the source of the ammunition.
He said he went to the Packing Shed to remind Christine of missed family time, noting that the two had spent Christmas together with their two sons and his mother. Fuller described placing the firearm in a hoodie on the back of his office chair before entering the shed.
During the confrontation, Fuller recounted that Clark approached him, and a heated exchange ensued. Fuller testified that Clark reached for his leg, prompting Fuller to feel “terrified” and fire his weapon reflexively. He emphasized that he did not consciously choose to shoot, describing his response as an involuntary act of self‑preservation.
Other developments
Tyler Holloway, 26, was later killed by police after the shooting, and a civil lawsuit remains pending against an Oregon State Police sergeant and others for alleged negligence in that death.
The trial, which began Oct. 28, will continue as jurors consider whether Fuller’s actions rise to murder or the lesser charge of manslaughter. The outcome will hinge on how the jury weighs the self‑defense claim against the forensic evidence presented.
Original reporting: Homepage – Lookout Eugene-Springfield — read the source article.
