Jefferson, Oregon

From Portland’s KOIN.com of April 7, 2007

Juvenile Shot During Alleged Break-In

A 16-year-old Jefferson boy is recovering from a gunshot wound after he was found in another man's home.

Just before 3:30 a.m., deputies were called to a home on High Street on reports of a robbery and shots fired.

Michael Vogler, 59, told the police that he had confronted a male in his house with a gun. At some point the male suspect assaulted Vogler and tried to get the gun away from him. During that struggle, one shot was fired. The juvenile ran into the garage of the home, dove head-first through a window and ran from the area on foot. Vogler had minor injuries to his head and neck as a result of the assault.

At about 6 a.m., Albany Hospital staff contacted the sheriff's office to report that the juvenile had come to the emergency room with a single gunshot wound to the abdomen and a cut on his elbow.

The juvenile was treated and released to his parents to recover from his injuries. The investigation is continuing and criminal charges for the juvenile will be forthcoming. The extent of those charges has yet to be determined.

From the Salem Statesman Journal of April 8, 2007

Home intruder flees after being shot

16-year-old found at Albany hospital seeking treatment

The shooting occurred just before 3:30 a.m. when deputies were called to 470 High St. in Jefferson on a report of a robbery in which a gun was fired, Rau said.

The homeowner, Michael Vogler, 59, told deputies that he had confronted a male intruder in his house, Rau said. Vogler fired one shot during a struggle in which the intruder tried to get Vogler's gun.

After the shot was fired, the intruder ran into the garage of the home, dove head-first through a window and ran from the area, Rau said. Vogler suffered minor injuries to his head and neck during the struggle.

Vogler's wife, Trudy, was home at the time of the shooting but was not involved, Rau said.

About 6 a.m. Albany hospital staff contacted sheriff's officials to report that a juvenile had come to the emergency room with a gunshot wound and a laceration on his elbow.

This is not the first time that a homeowner has shot a teenage intruder in Marion County. Linn Stordahl of South Salem shot and killed Anthony Chance Choate, 16, in April 2003 when he found the Aumsville boy starting a fire in his garage. Choate, a suspected burglar, died from a gunshot wound to the neck.

A Marion County grand jury cleared Stordahl in the shooting.

From the Salem Stateman Journal of April 11, 2007

Man recounts shooting teen intruder

Police identify male who tried to rob Jefferson home

Authorities have identified the suspect in a Saturday home invasion in Jefferson.

A homeowner shot a 16-year-old intruder early Saturday during a struggle inside the man's house, Marion County Sheriff's Sgt. David Cornforth said.

The Sheriff's Office has identified the youth, age 16, but the Statesman Journal is withholding his identity until he is indicted.

The youth is being held at Marion County's juvenile detention center on charges of first degree robbery, first degree criminal mischief, first degree burglary, second degree assault and third degree theft, Cornforth said.

It is the policy of the newspaper not to name juveniles who are arrested, even for so-called Measure 11 crimes, until they are indicted. Under Measure 11, youths younger than 18 will be treated as adults if indicted for certain crimes. First-degree burglary and robbery are two such crimes.

The suspect fled from the house after the shooting. He was located at Samaritan Albany General Hospital, where he sought treatment for a gunshot wound to his abdomen, Deputy Kevin Rau said. The suspect was taken into custody after receiving treatment.

The shooting occurred just before 3:30 a.m. when deputies were called to 470 High St. in Jefferson on a report of a robbery in which a gun was fired, Rau said.

The homeowner, Michael Vogler, 59, said his wife woke him up and told him someone was in the house. Vogler said he took his 0.357-caliber Magnum from a locked cabinet and moved quietly through the dark house.

"Being in a dark house, and you know somebody's there -- talk about being scared," Vogler said Sunday.

He said he heard noise in the laundry room between the kitchen and the garage, and crept toward the sound. Vogler said he kicked the laundry room door open and saw a shadowy figure charge him. He fired one shot during a struggle with the intruder.

"That was the first time I fired that gun in 25 years," he said.

The last time he shot the gun, he had been testing it after buying it.

After the shot was fired, the intruder ran into the garage of the home, dove head-first through a window and ran from the area, Rau said.

Vogler suffered minor injuries to his head and neck during the struggle.

About 6 a.m. Albany hospital staff contacted sheriff's officials to report that a juvenile had come to the emergency room with a gunshot wound and a laceration on his elbow.

Vogler said the incident cast a pall on his family's Easter celebration the next day. He also said he hadn't realized the intruder was so young.

"I don't feel good about it, but I didn't know if he was 11 or 90," Vogler said. "It was just a person in the shadow in the dark, and I was just trying to keep my composure and protect myself and my wife."