The Ashland Police Department meets with the community at the Ashland High School gymnasium Tuesday to discuss the investigation into the homicide of David Michael Grubbs, 23, who was found dead Nov. 19 on an Ashland bike path.

ASHLAND — At a community meeting, Police Chief Terry Holderness asked the question on the minds of Ashland residents frightened by the unexplained killing of a 23-year-old grocery clerk.

“How safe am I in Ashland?” he said at a community meeting Tuesday night. “Unfortunately, you’re probably not going to want to hear this, but I don’t know.”

About 500 people turned out for the meeting about the slaying of David Michael Grubbs, the Ashland Daily Tidings newspaper reported.

Grubbs was found slain Nov. 19 on a bike path about 5:35 p.m. He was reportedly going home from work.

An autopsy showed that he was nearly decapitated by a medium to large blade, police said.

Holderness said Grubbs does not appear to have been robbed, and gang activity is unlikely.

There doesn’t appear to be any reason for Grubbs to have been targeted, and he may have been chosen at random, Holderness said.

“If this is a random act of violence, then it’s probably less safe,” he said.

“We’re going to need more information in order to solve this.”

Holderness revealed some details. Two boys who stashed a skateboard and a helmet along the path are not suspects, he said.

He withheld other information, such as a response to a woman who wanted to know about bloody footprints.

He said withholding details can spare a victim’s family and help police ensure witnesses are legitimate, and not just repeating what they heard somewhere else.

The audience applauded 23-year-old Brittany Hamer, who said Grubbs was one of her best friends. She said she had gathered more than 200 signatures on a petition to light the central Ashland bike path.

“This could have been prevented,” she said.

Another resident, Tiffani Griffin, said she didn’t like how some people seemed to be blaming police for the killing.

“I feel like they are doing all that they can,” she said. “This reassured me of that.”

Pharmacy board warns of mix-ups

PORTLAND — The Oregon Board of Pharmacy is warning of what it calls an “alarming” number of reports that druggists are mixing up prescriptions for two similar-sounding drugs, Trazadone and Tramadol.

Trazadone is used to treat depression, anxiety and insomnia. Tramadol is used to treat pain.

The Oregonian newspaper reported three cases of the mix-up have occurred in the past three months, and the board says similar mistakes have occurred this year for other drugs that look or sound alike. Consumers can check their pills by comparing an imprint code to information on the label.

Mother, children arrested in killing

HOOD RIVER — A mother and her two adult children have been accused of shooting their father to death in 2003 in Hood River.

The Hood River County sheriff’s office says deputies made arrests Tuesday on 46-year-old Rosario Munoz De Garcia, 27-year-old Guadalupe Garcia and 24-year-old Jorge Garcia Munoz. They face murder and conspiracy charges in the death of Faustino Garcia Garcia.

KATU reported his family had reported him missing the same morning his body was found.