Medford house hit with 17 bullets - News - MailTribune.com - Medford, OR

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Medford house hit with 17 bullets Tuesday Nov 15, 2016 at 9:54 AM Nov 15, 2016 at 3:49 PM Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune @RyanPfeil An estimated 17 shots from a small-caliber firearm struck a house in southwest Medford Saturday, and police are still trying to figure out who pulled the trigger and why. In a Tuesday Facebook post, Medford police said the "bizarre" incident happened about 5:30 p.m. Saturday at a house at the deadend of Willow Way, located about one mile west of South Medford High School. The bullets were traveling at a low velocity and did not penetrate the house's siding, but some windows were broken. No one was hurt, police said. "It could be a .22, it could even be a high-powered pellet gun," said Medford police Lt. Kevin Walruff. The residents of the house fled after hearing the impacts. Police converged on the house and, after an investigation, determined the shots came from the south, probably from a few hundred yards away. Police do not believe the family was being targeted, but that somebody was target shooting in one of the orchards just south of the property. Walruff said the house would have been difficult to see because of vegetation blocking the view. Potential consequences for the shooter would vary depending on where the shots originated. It is against Oregon law to discharge a firearm in city limits, though you can shoot a weapon in certain areas in the county, Walruff said. So far police don't have much to go on, Walruff said. Neighbors did not hear gunshots and didn't see anyone roaming in the orchards, he said.  Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Medford police at 541-770-4784. "We need to figure out whether this was accidental or if it was intentional," Walruff said. "We need to figure it out and get closure for this family."   — Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected]. Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil.