‘Tragic accident.’ Tri-Cities man dies in shooting accident in Oregon

A Kennewick man died Tuesday May 14 after he accidentally shot himself while shooting ground squirrels in Oregon, according to the Wallowa County Sheriff’s Office.

Emanuel “Bill” Ziegler, 77, was with friends riding ATV’s and shooting on private property on Elk Mountain Road near Enterprise, Oregon, on Tuesday afternoon.

Ziegler was retired after working for Central Pre-Mix in the Tri-Cities for 40 years, according to his family.

He was instrumental in starting a Knights of Columbus Council at the Catholic Parish of the Holy Spirit in Kennewick and a frequent volunteer for the church and the council.

He died Tuesday before he could be taken to a hospital.

“There was no evidence to lead investigators to believe the death was anything other than an unfortunate tragic accident,” the sheriff’s office posted on social media.

An investigation was done by the Wallowa County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police, Wallowa County District Attorney’s Office and the Wallowa County Medical Examiner.

This story was originally published May 17, 2024 at 10:12 AM.