Former Oregon Department of Corrections Prison Guard Alonzo Rowell Arrested
A prison guard with 24 years’ service to the Oregon Department of Corrections was arrested on Saturday after a fatal shooting at 1400 Block of Southeast Monmouth Cutoff Road in Dallas, Polk County.
He Was Arrested at Oregon State Penitentiary – His Former Workplace
After the shooting, Alonzo Rowell (51) allegedly made his way to the Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem, his previous place of employment, where he was arrested after prison authorities alerted the police.
Rowell had the ‘potential intent to harm others’ at his former workplace, according to an email sent to agency employees by prison superintendent Corey Fhuere.
Fhuere said it was understandable that the incident could be distressing ‘given Alonzo’s previous connection to our institution,’ but said the safety and wellbeing of his staff and the 1,700 prison inmates were his top priority.
Fhuere confirmed that several police agencies responded to a call from the prison where Rowell was arrested. He said no one was injured.
Identity of Person Killed in Shooting Has Not Been Disclosed
Rowell is in custody in Polk County Jail, and the identity of the person killed in the shooting has not been released.
Dallas police said they were unable to revive the person who was shot but revealed that the deceased was known to the former prison guard. However, the Department of Corrections has confirmed that the deceased was not a former employee.
Rowell has been arrested on allegations of murder, unlawful use of a weapon, first-degree assault, and reckless endangerment of another person.
In 2015, he was convicted of reckless endangerment to another person to which he pleaded guilty in Polk County Circuit Court and was sentenced to a year of probation.
According to records, Rowell worked for the Oregon Department of Corrections from 1999 to April 2023. Officials from the Department of Corrections have refused to comment on the reason for Rowell’s departure. He is listed as inactive on the agency database.