Jacob MacDuff was murdered by a Tigard Police Officer on January 6th, 2021, outside of his apartment complex in Tigard, Oregon. 

Jacob had been struggling with mental illnesses for quite some time, and more recently, his mental health had deteriorated rapidly. He felt misunderstood, as if no one could understand his struggles.

From our most recent sources, Jacob’s roommate sensed his decline, and reached out to the Tigard police department every single day, for almost a week in hopes they could and would do something to help him. However, they told her they could not do anything to help unless Jacob committed a crime. 

Jacob’s roommate called every day, for five days with no assistance. On the sixth day, the police were called with allegations of domestic abuse (or it could have been a disturbance) - his roommate did so because remember, they would not come unless Jacob committed a crime. The real reason they were called was for the same reason they were called every day for a week - a mental health crisis. They knew this, the dispatchers told them this. 

When they arrived Jacob was in his car outside his complex, suffering from a mental health crisis alone. The police approached Jacob’s vehicle and tried to detain him. Jacob did not want to be detained - remember, he is in the midst of a mental health crisis. A struggle for detainment between the police and Jacob ensued, which ended in a police officer shooting Jacob 10+ times, unloading a full clip, killing him. He was only 26 years old, with so much life ahead of him. Police officers have tasers, batons, rubber bullets and mace. What on earth would constitute using a gun in this situation? Jacob loved and cared for everyone, and tried his best to help others even when he himself was struggling so deeply on the inside. 

The police reports say he was in possession of a “knife.” But this knife was a pocket knife with a 1.5 inch blade that he would carry on his keychain. This small pocket knife was by law not a deadly weapon, and in no way shape or form did Jacob pose a threat.

After news of his murder spread, protests and riots ensued within Tigard, Oregon, with hundreds protesting such a gross injustice. The news of Jacob’s murder has been localized, but we are here to spread and disseminate it.

A mental health crisis cannot equal a death sentence. Police departments and their forced MUST be retrained and there must be protocols in place to assist those who are obviously in need of mental health assistance. Many countries and states such as Colorado have a mental health force that arrives at a mental crisis scene prior to law enforcement, to de-escalate the situation as opposed to what the police did to Jacob. This needs to be instated in every state and county.

We are not asking for condolences or prayers, we are asking for help - help in getting justice for Jacob in a system that whole heartedly protects the police. If you have any extra funds, please consider donating to his twin sister’s go fund me: https://www.gofundme.com/f/28xlfpc0hc You can also sign this petition to help get justice for Jacob, or spread his story if you get the chance. If you have some extra time and feel like being an activist, you could email or call Tigard, Oregon officials regarding Jacob.

Our system needs change, and people need to be held accountable, no matter the occupational title they hold. 

We are trying to reach the attention of Oregon governor Kate Brown to ensure that justice be brought upon Jacob by having the officer(s) who are responsible for his murder fired and charges immediately filed.