A Jackson County jury convicted David Michael Somers of four charges stemming from a July confrontation outside Spirits World in Medford.
CASE OUTCOME
Convicted: David Michael Somers, 42, of Medford
Incident: Parking lot shooting on July 21, 2026
Location: Spirits World, 700 block of Stevens Street, Medford
Verdict: October 28, 2026
Convictions: Three counts of Unlawful Use of a Weapon with a Firearm and one count of Menacing
Sentence: Five years in prison under Oregon's firearm minimum sentencing law
Injuries: None reported
Investigating Agency: Medford Police Department
Prosecuting Agency: Jackson County District Attorney's Office
David Michael Somers Sentenced: David Michael Somers, 42, was sentenced to five years in prison after a Jackson County jury convicted him of unlawfully using a firearm during a July 21, 2026, parking lot dispute in Medford. Photo: Jackson County District Attorney's Office.
MEDFORD, Ore. — A 42-year-old Medford man has been sentenced to five years in prison after a Jackson County jury convicted him of firing two gunshots during a confrontation with another driver in a business parking lot last summer.
David Michael Somers was found guilty Wednesday, October 28, of three counts of Unlawful Use of a Weapon with a Firearm and one count of Menacing.
Following the verdict, Jackson County Circuit Court Pro Tem Judge Paul Moser imposed a five-year prison sentence under Oregon's firearm minimum sentencing law, ORS 161.610, at the request of the Jackson County District Attorney's Office.
According to prosecutors, the sentence was the maximum permitted under Oregon sentencing laws for this case. Without the firearm minimum, Somers would have been eligible only for probation.
The convictions stemmed from a July 21 incident at approximately 3 p.m. in the parking lot of Spirits World, located in the 700 block of Stevens Street in Medford.
According to the District Attorney's Office, Somers and another driver were attempting to back out of parking spaces directly opposite one another. Somers pulled back into his space to allow the other vehicle to leave, but a verbal confrontation followed.
Prosecutors said Somers began yelling at the other driver, who exited his vehicle and argued back.
While remaining inside his vehicle, Somers produced what appeared to be a revolver and pointed it through his driver's-side window toward the man.
Somers then fired a shot into the ground near the other driver. As he drove past the man and his vehicle to leave the parking lot, Somers fired a second shot in their direction.
Other people were present in the area during the confrontation. No injuries were reported.
The victim's fiancée, who witnessed the incident from the passenger seat, corroborated his account. Another witness captured part of the encounter on a cellphone, while surveillance cameras at Spirits World recorded the entire incident, including audio of both gunshots.
Medford Police detectives located Somers and his vehicle approximately 30 minutes later at an apartment complex in northeast Medford.
Investigators reported finding evidence that Somers had attempted to conceal his vehicle's license plate. Although the firearm was not recovered, searches uncovered ammunition and an empty holster with wear marks consistent with a revolver.
According to prosecutors, Somers told investigators he intended only to scare the other driver and claimed he had acted in self-defense.
The conviction is among the first cases resolved under a Jackson County District Attorney's Office policy implemented January 1, 2026, directing prosecutors to seek a five-year firearm minimum sentence when a defendant intentionally and unlawfully discharges a firearm, regardless of criminal history.
Oregon law gives judges discretion to impose the five-year minimum when a defendant has no prior qualifying firearm conviction. Prosecutors said Somers' previous criminal history consisted of two misdemeanor driving convictions.
District Attorney Patrick Green, who prosecuted the case, said the sentence reflects the danger created when firearms are used during disputes.
"When someone chooses to unlawfully discharge a firearm during a dispute, they place not only the intended victim at risk, but everyone in the surrounding area," Green said.
"It is only by chance that no one was killed or seriously injured in this case," he added, expressing hope that the sentence would discourage similar acts of gun violence.
Jefferson Daily News originally reported the shooting on July 22, following Somers' arrest by Medford Police. At the time, investigators reported that multiple shots had been fired during a parking lot dispute on Stevens Street. No one was struck by the gunfire.
The District Attorney's Office credited Medford Police for its investigation.
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