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L/RAIN Temp: 46 °F Wind: W at 8 mph Monday, April 21, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend April 8, 2003 Police have no leads on two shootings The second incident in Rogue River was definitely not accidental, police say By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune ROGUE RIVER — Two unresolved shooting incidents have school administrators and public officials trying to balance public safety with concerns about needlessly panicking residents. Police have no solid leads on last week’s incidents — one day and one door apart — which left one man wounded and blew out the front window of an elderly next-door neighbor. The homes are two blocks from Rogue River elementary and middle schools, and close to a public park and two churches. Police said several people called to report hearing shots fired the afternoon of March 31 when Jack Pyle, who lives on Pine Street, was struck by a bullet while mowing his lawn. Police received no reports of anyone hearing shots when the window was shot out the evening of April 1. Police also said they have not received any additional reports of shots fired in the past seven days. Students at the Rogue River schools were not jeopardized by the first shooting incident because they were closed that day by budget cuts. School District Charles Hellman says the proximity of the two schools to the shooting sites is "very concerning," but children at both the middle and elementary school were allowed to play outside last week. Hellman said he would discuss safety options with school principals and the police chief Tuesday. "We need to discuss a safety plan, get it in motion and make sure there is adequate monitoring of our students," said Hellman. City administrator Mark Reagles says city public works employees have been informed about the shootings, but staff members are taking no special precautions. Pyle, who was shot in the shoulder March 31, was treated and released from a Medford hospital that night. Police originally thought he was the unlucky victim of a nearly spent stray bullet fired from a nearby hillside area frequently used for target shooting. But the next day, at 7:45 p.m., the large, street-facing window of an elderly woman’s apartment, also on Pine Street, was shattered by what police believe were two or three shots. Police said the second incident was definitely not accidental. Pyle’s wife, Sandra said the second incident has caused her to be more concerned about her husband’s "accident." "I assumed it (Jack’s shooting) was just a stray bullet from people shooting up on the hill behind us, but nobody’s come forward," she said. "The second incident had to have been purposeful. That makes it seem like (Jack getting shot) might have been deliberate." Chief Ken Lewis said the bullet hole and residue left on Pyle’s white polo shirt leads him to believe Pyle was shot with a .22-caliber rifle — possibly from as far as two miles away. Pyle’s yard and home were unsuccessfully combed for the bullet last week. Police are unsure exactly what projectile blasted out the large window on the apartment next door to Pyle’s home, but say they are sure it was not an accident. Sandra Pyle said other neighbors are feeling nervous effects of the two shooting incidents. "People at church told me they weren’t going for their evening walks now," she said. "That’s so sad. Nothing like this has happened in Rogue River before." Anyone with any information on the case is asked to call police at 582-4931. Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail [email protected] . Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S