Man faces charges from party shooting - September 10, 2003

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2003-09-29

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CLOUDY Temp: 61 °F Wind: WNW at 5 mph Monday, September 29, 2003   SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries   Life   Opinion - Politics   AP News   Weather   Classified   Archives   Site Map   EXTRA HomeLife Magazine Joy Magazine Tempo A & E RogueValleyAutoFinder   RogueValleyHomeFinder   Real Estate Showcase   Wellness Connection   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 Employment Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend September 10, 2003 Man faces charges from party shooting By ANITA BURKE Mail Tribune A 28-year-old man accused of shooting a Medford man in the chest appeared in court Tuesday to face attempted murder and first-degree assault charges. Royal Kurt Kruesi was arraigned in Jackson County Circuit Court. Bail was set at $1 million and he remains in Jackson County Jail. He is scheduled to return to court Sept. 16. The man police say he shot, Michael Wayne Overby, 23, was in good condition Tuesday evening at Providence Medford Medical Center, a hospital nursing supervisor said. Kruesi and Overby got into an argument over parenting techniques at a weekend party at Overby’s house on West Eighth Street in Medford, police said. Several people tried to intervene in the loud argument, and finally Overby demanded that Kruesi leave, a police report said. When Kruesi refused to go, Overby tried to push him out of the house. Advertisement As the two men struggled in front of the house around 3:30 Sunday morning, Kruesi pulled out a .22-caliber handgun and shot Overby in the chest, witnesses told police. Overby was taken to Providence in critical condition and Kruesi fled in a white minivan, police said. Medford police notified law enforcement across the nation about their search for Kruesi and a tipster in Klamath Falls notified police there Monday morning that the suspect was at a Klamath Falls motel. When officers went to check, they spotted Kruesi, who ran and hid in a trash bin at a nearby gas station, police said. Pursuing officers found him and recovered a weapon they believe he used in the shooting. Kruesi, who police said had lived in Portland recently but court records show with an address in the 800 block of East Ninth Street, Medford, has past felony convictions in Jackson County Circuit Court. In January 1997, he was convicted of unlawfully discharging a weapon and first-degree theft, although reckless endangering and attempted first-degree assault charges stemming from the same December 1996 incident were dismissed. Other convictions since then include first-degree burglary, theft and criminal mischief, court records show. Reach reporter Anita Burke at 776-4459, 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 SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times