11/09/09 Terrebonne

On Sunday, November 8, 2009, at about 3:43 am the Crook County Sheriff's Office responded to a ranch on NW Lone Pine Road in Terrebonne to investigate the shooting death of a 14-year-old boy. When deputies arrived they found 14-year-old Justin Butler of Culver dead at the scene with a gunshot wound to the head.

Justin and his family were camped on the family ranch elk hunting when they were woke up a little after 3 am to the sound of gunshots. The family discovered Justin had been shot and called 9-1-1. The hunting camp was located on the east side of the Butler Ranch in a small draw. Justin and his older brother Coltan, father Richard Butler, and friend Jennifer Lorenz were sleeping in a 1988 Southwind motorhome.

Family friend Allen Schopper was sleeping in a pick-up truck outside and after hearing the gunshots was unable to fall back asleep. He entered the motorhome to warm up. Occupants of the motorhome turned on the lights and discovered the gunshots they heard had entered the motorhome killing Justin.

The Crook County Sheriff's Office was assisted by the Oregon State Police Crime Lab, Oregon State Troopers, the Central Oregon Major Crimes team, and the Crook County District Attorney's Office. The case is still under investigation and more details will be released as they develop.