Authorities identify Hermiston homicide victim, suspect on the lam

Oregon authorities are looking for a 22-year-old man who is suspected of killing another man earlier this week near Hermiston.

The Umatilla sheriff’s office has identified the man who was shot to death Tuesday as Daniel Dechand, 25.

Authorities say Timothy Allen Kelly, of Irrigon, shot Dechand inside a Chevy Blazer after they drove to Sunshine Lane northwest of Hermiston.

Both men reportedly knew each other.

Kelly ran off near where the shooting took place and has not been found.

Dechand and another man, David Wayne Newton, 51, of Irrigon, picked up Kelly as he walked along Highland Avenue west of Hermiston, Sheriff Terry Rowan said. The group drove through Hermiston to Sunshine Lane.

“It is still not clear why Kelly shot Daniel Dechand and until we have an opportunity to speak with Kelly, we can only speculate the reasons behind the shooting,” a release from Rowan said.

Newton drove Dechand to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Anyone with information on Kelly’s whereabouts is asked to call the Umatilla sheriff’s office at 541-966-3651.

This story was originally published February 6, 2014 at 6:06 PM with the headline "Authorities identify Hermiston homicide victim, suspect on the lam."