News Release from: Clackamas Co. Sheriff's Office

Sheriff's Office investigates shooting in Mt. Hood National Forest

Posted: Oct. 8-9, 2009

CCSO Case # 2009-31118

At about 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8, the Clackamas County Sheriffs Office received a call about a shooting in the Mt. Hood National Forest. The shooting reportedly occurred at a campsite off the East Salmon River Road off of Hwy. 26 near Rhododendron, Oregon.

Clackamas County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to Hwy 26 at its intersection with Salmon River Road and met the victim of the shooting. The victim -- JOSEPH AARON TRUKOSITZ, 29 years old, of Eugene, OR -- drove himself to the location in his own vehicle. An AMR ambulance transported Mr. TRUKOSITZ to Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland for treatment of a gunshot wound that did not appear to be life-threatening. Deputies followed Mr. TRUKOSITZ to the hospital to continue the victim interview.

Additional deputies went to the campsite to continue the investigation at the shooting scene; they learned that Mr. TRUKOSTIZ and his brother -- JOSHUA KENNETH MARION, 31 years old, from Gresham, OR -- had been drinking alcohol at the campsite. The brothers reportedly began a verbal argument that escalated into a physical fight that ended with JOSEPH TRUKOSTIZ receiving a gunshot wound.

Deputies interviewed JOSHUA MARION at the scene, and Sheriff's Office detectives will continue to investigate the circumstances of the shooting.

No arrests have been made in this incident at this time.

Photographs of the campsite at the time of the scene investigation are available to media outlets. In the photos, Clackamas County Sheriff's Sergeant Jeff Grahn (foreground) and Deputy Marcus Mendoza search the campsite of JOSEPH AARON TRUKOSITZ and his brother JOSHUA KENNETH MARION after a shooting occurred there.

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Contact Info: Paul Steigleder II, Lieutenant
Acting Public Information Officer