DA releases names of people killed in hostage standoff near Cave Junction

Josephine County District Attorney Josh Eastman on Wednesday released the names of two people who died in a hostage standoff Monday near Cave Junction.

Eastman identified the man who caused the standoff as Donald J. Guest, 56.

The victim was Sandra Jo Reynolds, 70, who owns the property at 400 Pinewood Way where the shooting occurred.

Reynolds had lived there about 10 years, neighbors said.

Guest and his wife moved in with Reynolds about seven months ago, according to neighbors.

The standoff started Monday morning when Guest’s wife called 911 saying her husband had threatened to kill her and was armed. She got out of the house, but Reynolds became a hostage in a standoff that lasted several hours.

According to Sheriff Dave Daniel, hostage negotiators from the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety were sent to the scene along with both the city’s SWAT team and a state police SWAT team.

Shots were fired around 1:30 p.m. by the male resident and law enforcement.

“Both, residents remaining within the home were located and pronounced deceased,” Daniel said.

Neighbors reported hearing many gunshots that followed an initial gunshot.

Detectives spent several hours at the scene Monday and Tuesday. Eastman said Tuesday that Grants Pass police officers and state troopers fired their guns, but there’s been no word on who killed Guest and Reynolds.

The investigation has been turned over to the Major Assault Death Investigation Unit of Jackson County.

———

Reach reporter Jeff Duewel at 541-474-3720 or jduewel@thedailycourier.com.