The Lane County District Attorney’s office dropped charges last week that stemmed from a shooting at the Indigo District restaurant and bar in the West University Neighborhood in September.
On Sept. 25, a single shot was fired outside the bar from the gun of 25-year-old Mathew James Hangsleben. The shot grazed the top of 24-year-old University graduate Julian Pscheid’s head. Pscheid was treated at the scene and did not require stitches.
Hangsleben was arrested on charges of attempted first-degree and third-degree assault, reckless endangering, unlawful use of a weapon and criminal mischief.
Lane County Assistant District Attorney Erik Hasselman said the charges were dropped because it could not be proven that the shot was fired intentionally or that Hangsleben was not acting in self-defense.
“I can’t say our decision condones his actions,” Hasselman said. “But in our opinion, we couldn’t carry the state’s burden to prove it beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Hasselman said the decision came after he and Eugene Police Department Detective Ralph Burks, the lead detective in the case, met with Hangsleben and his attorney.
Officers didn’t have the opportunity to interview Hangsleben the night of the shooting, Hasselman said, but Hangsleben’s attorney made his client available to police.
“We thought he would appear as a credible witness,” Hasselman said.
Hangsleben said he was waiting for a friend when the bar announced last call and the house lights came on. At that point, a bouncer forced him out the door without first asking him to leave, Hangsleben said.
“I feel he was out of line,” Hangsleben said. “The way he came at it, it went first to bouncing.”
Justin Gibbs, owner of the Indigo District, said he was the second one on the scene after the bouncer. It is bar policy that patrons wait for others outside after last call, Gibbs said.
“He was told to wait outside and wouldn’t leave,” Gibbs said. “We gave him several warnings verbally.”
Hangsleben said he was neither provoking a fight nor intoxicated at the time. He said he has a receipt proving he paid his tab off hours before the incident.
Gibbs disputes that.
“We had bartenders watching him being fed drinks on someone else’s tab,” Gibbs said. “Why would he be at the bar for two hours and not be drinking?”
Hangsleben said that after he was forced outside, the bouncer came after him a second time, and the two fell to the ground. At that point the bouncer noticed the gun in his holster, Hangsleben said, and tried to disarm him.
“I never pulled the gun,” Hangsleben said.
Gibbs said Hangsleben himself pulled the gun, and no one was tugging at it.
“That kid was trying to turn a gun on my staff,” Gibbs said.
Witnesses said the shot was fired while another person was standing on Hangsleben’s hand, Hasselman said.
Hasselman said though the shot originally appeared as if it could have been “not unintentional,” statements from the scene and from Hangsleben created doubt.
“It appeared as if the discharge was accidental when a gentleman was standing on his hand,” Hasselman said.
Hasselman said Hangsleben broke no laws through his possession of the gun, for which Hangsleben has a concealed handgun license.
“He said he always carries it at night,” Hasselman said. “He feels more comfortable and better able to protect himself.”
Gibbs said that the incident has given the Indigo District a dangerous image that has harmed business.
“It was a ghost town for about four weeks after,” said Gibbs.
The Indigo District has done about 40 percent less business than this time last year, Gibbs said. Overall, Gibbs is frustrated with the situation.
“It’s disappointing on many levels that he can do that and not face any consequences,” Gibbs said.
Dropping the charges has given Hangsleben some relief.
He said his work requires him to leave the state and he has been unable to since his arrest. He also tried to get temporary employment but was blocked by background checks.
“I was considered unhirable,” Hangsleben said.
He hopes this will finally close the incident.
“I’m just trying to put this behind me and move on with my life,” Hangsleben said.

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