Document text
Butte Falls shooting determined to be self defense Wednesday Nov 9, 2016 at 3:28 PM Nov 9, 2016 at 4:17 PM Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune @RyanPfeil No criminal charges will be filed against a 28-year-old man who shot and killed another man in the woods outside Butte Falls last month, because police determined the  shooter was acting in self defense, according to a news release issued Wednesday by the Jackson County District Attorney's Office. According to police, Shane Young fired twice in response to shots fired first by Dick Laurence Zoomer Daniels, 33, while camping near Ginger Creek. The DA's office said Daniels had been waiting with firearms for Young and his girlfriend, Mariah Silveria, 35, in "what could be described as a sniper's site hidden in between two trees on the outskirts of the campsite." Police said Young and Silveria returned to their campsite in a truck about 8 p.m. Oct. 12, and Daniels stepped out of the woods from his hiding spot with a flashlight. Silveria exited the passenger side of the vehicle and heard Daniels threaten Young. Daniels fired a shot at Young then chased him around the vehicle, squeezing off several shots. Daniels reportedly stood on the truck's rear bumper, pointing the flashlight around to try and find Young, who was crouched next to the open passenger door. Police said Silveria reached into the vehicle's cab, retrieved Young's .223 rifle and handed it to Young as he hid. Young fired twice, hitting Daniels in the chest and right shoulder. Silveria called 911 at about 8:14 p.m., and Daniels was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. Police said Silveria and Daniels had previously been in a relationship, and they had been in a dispute over ownership of a second truck at the campsite, Deputy District Attorney Melissa Leritz said. A witness told police she had dropped Daniels off near the campsite before the attack, and that Daniels had a handgun and rifle with him. During a search of the campsite, detectives found several shell casings that matched the weapon Daniels used to shoot at Young. Police returned the following day and discovered Daniels' hiding spot, where they found a .243-caliber rifle, scope and Daniels' coat. The night before, the medical examiner retrieved two .243-caliber bullets from Daniels' pocket. "Based on the witnesses' statements and physical evidence collected at the scene, Mr. Young was justified under Oregon law in using deadly physical force against Mr. Daniels," the release said. — Reach Mail Tribune web editor Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected].