Shooting leaves 1 man, 2 dogs dead and lady with broken hip

RICE VALLEY — One man and two dogs were shot dead Saturday after an altercation involving a young man who intruded on a senior couple’s property.

Police say the intruder, 24-year-old Ryan Scevers, was killed in the incident.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Department and Oregon State Police responded at about 10:10 a.m. to a report of gunshots in the 3000 block of Rice Valley Road.

Police first became involved with Scevers at about 8:45 a.m. Saturday, when Douglas County Communications received a report of a theft of an all-terrain vehicle from a barn located in the 800 Block of Thurman Road, in the Rice Valley area.

The stolen 4-wheeler was observed by responding Douglas County Sheriff’s deputies, as well as by Oregon State Police troopers. The operator of the 4-wheeler had a dog on the vehicle with him at the time. Responding law enforcement officers were unable to pursue the vehicle due to the terrain where the 4-wheeler was seen. Scevers, who lives on Thurman Road, was identified as a possible suspect.

At 10:10 a.m., Frank Hendrickson, 65, called Douglas County Communications to report that he had just shot a man after a confrontation at his residence in the 3000 Block of Rice Valley Road. Responding police officers contacted Hendrickson and his wife, Delilah Knight, 62, at the residence. They also located Scevers and recognized him from the earlier incident. They also recognized the stolen 4-wheeler, and the dog that had been with Scevers.

Scevers was declared deceased at the scene.

Deputies learned Hendrickson and Knight had been at home when they heard a commotion outside. Hendrickson found a dog had come onto his property and was chasing his animals. Hendrickson shot the dog, which died at the scene. Police said a short time later, Scevers rode into Hendrickson’s driveway on the stolen ATV. Scevers entered Hendrickson’s pickup, took a rifle from inside of it and began to shoot at Hendrickson and Knight.

One of the rounds Scevers fired struck a window of the Hendrickson residence. Knight was not struck by the bullet, but fell to the ground. Another round fired by Scevers struck Hendrickson’s dog, which died at the scene. Hendrickson then returned fire and struck Scevers.

Knight was transported to Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend in Springfield, where she was treated for a suspected broken hip. Hendrickson was not injured during the shoot-out.

Along with the Oregon State Police, the Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Sutherlin Police Department, the Roseburg Police Department and the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office. The investigation is continuing. No arrests have been made, and the case will likely be presented to a Douglas County grand jury.