Rufus Mayor jailed on charges of firing gun on occupied vehicle
From Hood River County Sheriff’s Office:
A suspect is in custody following a shooting that took place near Parkdale on the evening of October 31st, 2022.
Dowen Michael Jones, 47, of Rufus, Oregon, was lodged at the Northern Oregon Corrections (NORCOR) facility on multiple counts, including attempted murder.
At approximately 8:43 P.M. on October 31st, 2022, a family of four was traveling south on Highway 281 (between Dee and and Parkdale) following behind an SUV that was reported driving erratically.
Upon reaching the 6000 block of Highway 281, the SUV pulled over abruptly, causing the driver of the family vehicle some concern.
The family slowed to get a description of the suspect vehicle for the purpose of reporting the erratic driving to the Sheriff’s Office.
As the family passed the suspect vehicle, a male subject stepped out of the passenger side and fired four rounds from a handgun at the passing family.
The gunfire caused damage to the family’s vehicle. The automobile was occupied by two adults and two minor children, ages five and eight.
No one was injured as a result.
On November 1, 2022, investigators were able to identify and locate the vehicle utilized in the shooting, as well as identify the shooter, Dowen Jones.
Deputies from the Sherman County Sheriff’s Office contacted Jones in the City of Rufus, where he is the elected Mayor. He was arrested and later lodged at Northern Oregon Regional Corrections (NORCOR), in The Dalles on one count of Attempted Murder and four counts of Attempted Assault in the First Degree. Also assisting with the investigation was The Dalles Police Department. The investigation is ongoing.
Editors Note - Jones was set to be arraigned today, Nov. 2, in Hood River Circuit Court. He is currently lodged at the NORCOR in The Dalles on a $1-million bond; bail is set at $100,000, according to NORCOR records. He was being held on attempted murder and four counts of attempted first-degree assault.
