Wallowa County Cheiftan news article
Dennis Beach was my brother-in-law. His son Travis is my nephew.Wallowa County Cheiftan wrote:January 18, 2007
1/25/2007 4:00:00 AM
Two North End men die in gunfight
Woman arrested for assault and attempted murder
By Elane Dickenson
Wallowa County Chieftain
A North End woman has been arrested in connection with a tragedy of Old West proportions that resulted in the shooting death of Dennis Alan Beach, 55, and Shane Howard Huntsman, 40, in the rugged North End country of Wallowa County, where both men lived.
Investigation into the case is continuing, but in a development announced Tuesday evening, Wallowa County Sheriff Fred Steen said that "evidence had fallen into place" that day and one person, Donna Dunning, 59, of Rye Ridge Road, was arrested and taken into custody in connection with the case.
She was booked on felony charges of second-degree assault and attempted murder, both Measure 11 offences, which carry mandatory minimum sentences, at the Umatilla County Correctional Facility. The sheriff declined to give any details about the charges pending against Dunning.
Sheriff Fred Steen of Wallowa County Sheriff's Office reported Saturday that evidence indicated that Dennis Beach and his son, Travis Beach, 28, went to retrieve cattle from "a private ranch" north of Flora and about 35 miles north of Enterprise. A dispute erupted there with Huntsman, who was there with Dunning to take care of livestock on the ranch while the owners were away.
"Dennis Beach was subsequently shot during the altercation, as was Shane Huntsman," the sheriff said. "Two other subjects who were there at that time were also injured during the altercation. They were treated and released at a local hospital."
According to family sources, in the course of a confrontation, Huntsman shot Dennis Beach off of his horse with a rifle, and Huntsman was shot with the same gun by Travis Beach during a subsequent fight.
In announcing Dunning's arrest, Steen confirmed that the two subjects injured during the altercation and treated at the local hospital were Travis Beach and Dunning. However, he would not comment on the identity of the shooters, saying, "This is very much an open investigation." He said that additional charges could eventually be filed.
The sheriff identified the private ranch as being the residence of Tom and Laura Beach, who were away from home. Tom Beach is Dunning's brother, and both were the first cousins of Dennis Beach and members of the fourth generation of a ranching family that settled in northern Wallowa County in the section known as Paradise in 1889. Huntsman was a long-time Wallowa County resident, as well as friend and housemate of Dunning.
Additional evidence and facts gathered in the case by lead investigator Deputy Eric Kozowski, Steen and others could ultimately be turned over to a grand jury, according to Wallowa County District Attorney Mona K. Williams.
The shooting was originally reported via 911 calls about 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 18. Steen said that one of the calls came from Travis Beach and one of the others he believed was made by Dunning.
The Wallowa County Interagency Special Assignment Team, with assistance from the Oregon State Police, responded to the ranch location. The scene was secured and both victims were identified and determined to be dead.
Steen said that some questions had been raised about the time it took to respond to the scene, but emphasized that protocols were followed that are designed to protect the safety of both officers and the public.
The sheriff said that four cattle believed to be involved in the fatal dispute were taken to the brand inspector Monday and it was determined that the cattle belonged to or were under the control of the Dennis Beach family.
Sheriff Steen said that approximately 25-30 people, including crime lab and forensic personnel and a state Department of Justice investigator, have so far been involved in the homicide investigation.
Gerald Perren of Enterprise, Dennis Beach's uncle, said he'd talked briefly to Travis Beach, who was treated at Wallowa Memorial Hospital for a head injury incurred following the shooting incident, reportedly by being hit on the head with a rock.
"What a traumatic experience, seeing your father shot dead in front of you. And then, if they were beating him with rocks...he was probably concerned for his own life...We believe it to be self-defense," Perren said.
Travis Beach was married last June to Holly Hanson and the couple is expecting a baby this spring. He is a 1999 graduate of Enterprise High School.
Perren said he believed the confrontation stemmed from a reported altercation about ownership of cattle the previous week. "It was all so senseless," he said.
A cousin of Shane Huntsman, Joanne Smith, contacted the Chieftain to say that she did not want to see her cousin "to be painted as a monster," adding, "There are two sides to every story."
" This is a horrible thing. This is an absolute horrible thing that happened," Steen said. He noted the deaths were even more tragic because Wallowa County is such a small community. "These aren't strangers. These are people we all know," he said.
Just sad that something like this happens over cows. The community is behind them. There were thousands present for the services and celebration of life. Tears shed and stories shared. The healing has begun.
I am not looking for sympathy. There has been plenty of that spread around for the last week.
If you do anything, please treat everyday as if it was your last. You just never know when the ride will end.
