MAN SHOT DEAD NEAR TROY

Published 12:00 am Monday, November 27, 2006

ENTERPRISE A man from Weston was dead and another from Yakima in custody following a shooting Saturday at Grizz Flat near Troy.

The gunshot victim, Robert Eugene Mills, 26, of Weston, was transported by air to St. Mary Medical Center in Walla Walla, where he later died.

Benjamin Paul Harrell, 40, of Yakima was taken into custody at the scene, transported to Pendleton and lodged in the Umatilla County Jail. He was charged with one count of murder and one count of attempted assault in the first degree.

The Wallowa County Sheriff’s Office said it received a call from Troy reporting a gunshot wound at about 5:40 p.m.

While police made their way to the remote location, a local paramedic responded and administered what first aid he could to the victim.

The paramedic, who was carrying some medical equipment and a radio, contacted Wallowa County dispatch and requested that Med Star, an air ambulance, be dispatched to the scene.

Due to the remoteness of the area and weather and road conditions, travel time for law enforcement and medical personnel was over an hour, the sheriff’s office said.

The Wallowa County Sheriff’s Office said the case is still under investigation.

Other agencies involved in the investigation include the Oregon State Police Major Crimes Team, Walla Walla Police Department and the Walla Walla County Coroner’s Office.

Further information was unavailable at press time.

Marketplace