On May 14, 2024, Emanuel Bill John Ziegler, a 77-year-old White man from Kennewick, Washington, died on private property on Elk Mountain Road near Enterprise, Oregon. The group had been riding ATVs and shooting ground squirrels when a 911 call reporting a possible shooting came in at about 5:05 PM. Deputies, Oregon State Police and EMS found Ziegler deceased from a single gunshot wound; he died before reaching hospital care.

Investigators from the Wallowa County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police, the county District Attorney’s Office and the Medical Examiner concluded the shooting was accidental and that Ziegler had shot himself during the recreational shooting activity. Authorities reported no evidence suggesting foul play and no arrests or suspects have been named.

Ziegler was retired after 40 years as a superintendent for Central Pre-Mix and had lived in the Tri-Cities area for 47 years. He helped start a Knights of Columbus Council at the Catholic Parish of the Holy Spirit and was an active volunteer in his community.

If anyone was on Elk Mountain Road that day or has information about the shooting activity that afternoon, please share what you know.