Prineville man accused of ‘unprovoked attack,’ arrested on attempted murder, burglary and assault charges
Barney Lerten
(Update: Details of arraignment, crime, suspect’s history of mental illness)
PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Prineville man was arrested Monday evening on attempted murder, burglary and assault charges, accused of attacking and severely injuring another man in an “unprovoked attack’ at a northeast Prineville apartment.
Lindley Drew Purrington, 26, was being held without bail at the Crook County Jail. He was set to make an initial court appearance Tuesday afternoon on felony charges of second-degree attempted murder, first-degree burglary and second-degree assault.
An initial court filing identified the alleged victim as Steven Wayne Wilson.
More details of the crime came to light during Purrington’s arraignment before Crook County Circuit Judge Wade Whiting, who set his bail at $250,000. He scheduled Purrington’s arraignment next Monday on an expected formal indictment.
Deputy District Attorney Paxton Deuel told the judge that Purrington “has a history of mental illness” and civil commitments.
“He believes he is a (Star Wars) Jedi and attacked the victim because the victim was a Sith,” Deuel said of Purrington, who asked the judge to refer to him by his Jedi name of “Atlas.”
The prosecutor said Purrington told police of assaulting his neighbor: “I did it to end the war between the Jedi and the Sith.”
He said Purrington went to his neighbor’s apartment, pulled him out of his room and struck and beat him “repeatedly with his fists,” also recording the assault and posting it on social media.
PRINEVILLE POLICE NEWS RELEASEFrom Police Chief Jeff Profio:
On June 30, 2025, at approximately 5:09 p.m., Prineville dispatch received a 911 call reporting an assault in the 800 block of NE 3rd Street. Prineville Police and the Crook County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene. They located a male victim suffering from major facial and head injuries. The suspect was also located at the scene and quickly taken into custody.
The initial investigation revealed that this was a completely unprovoked attack by the suspect. Prineville Police arrested Lindley Drew Purrington, age 26, at the scene. He was lodged in the Crook County Jail and charged with Attempted Murder in the second degree, Assault in the second degree, and Burglary in the first degree.
The Prineville Police Department is aware of a video that was posted on social media of this heinous attack. They have asked that the video be removed.
Prineville Police believe they have all the parties involved in the incident accounted for and there is no ongoing threat to the community.
The investigation is ongoing and there are no further details that can be released at this time. If you have any information regarding this investigation, please contact the Prineville Police Department at 541-447-4168. The investigator is Officer Kelson Stewart and he can be reached at Kstewart@PrinevillePD.org.
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