Hunter shoots another hunter???

[bearhunter59]

What's the deal, eastsiders?  KIRO7 just did a short report on some "coyote hunter" shooting another hunter that just happen to be an off-duty deputy...somewhere on the eastside....What the full story guys???

[jstamp]

Just kidding. Hopefully the guy didn't die. I wonder if, what happened was the shooter was a convicted felon and shouldn't have been hunting, and recognized the deputy and shot him.

[Ray]

News just said deputy and other fellow were both hunting. It didnt say they were together and the news claimed that the police say it is all an accident but the shooter was in custody.  Maybe for further investigation or to corroborate his story or something. They said the deputy was shot in the back and flown over to the wet side for hospital care. Incident was apparently near Soap Lake.

[mossback91]

http://www.krem.com/topstories/stories/krem2_011008_offdutydeputyshot.e45b1e4.html

[bowhuntin]

That sucks, doesn't sound like the shooter identified his target before he took the shot

[jstamp]

Accident my ASS!  >:(Sure, he might not have intended to shoot someone, but in order to get a hunting license in this state you have to pass a hunter education course (unless you were born before 72) and in that course they stress identifying your target and knowing your back stop. Hopefully, the cop will make it, and not have any long term effects.

[rainshadow1]

Really sad. From the story it sounds like there's an outside chance the shooter didn't see the victim, like he was several hilltops away or something... But it's not likely. Likely just a really, really, REALLLLLLLY BAD decision. Very sad. Hope he recovers.

[jstamp]

 MOSES LAKE, Wash. -- A 38-year-old Moses Lake man accused of shooting a an off-duty Grant County Sheriff's deputy last week is now charged with four felonies. Robbie Marcher made his first appearance in court Monday afternoon and KREM 2 News was the only TV station to attend.

Grant Co. Sheriff's Office

26-year-old Dep. Earl Romig is in critical condition.

Investigators say Marcher shot Deputy Earl Romig Thursday afternoon near Soap Lake while hunting coyotes.

Marcher told authorities he thought he heard a coyote call, pointed his rifle-- which had a scope-- and fired. The bullet struck Romig in the back. He fell to the ground and began calling for help.

Police reconstructed the shooting and found that Marcher should have been able to clearly see the deputy even without a scope.

Marcher admitted during interviews with police he "knew at the time he might have shot a person instead of a coyote", but never called police or went to see if he hit anything. In addition, Marcher was not even supposed to have a gun because of past criminal convictions.

Dan Jackson, KREM 2 News

Robbie Marcher faces four charges in connection with the shooting of an off-duty Grant Co. Sheriff's deputy.

A judge has set his bail at $70,000.

Romig is in serious condition at a Seattle hospital. According to family members, he's been in extreme pain.

This really pisses me off, this crack head shouldn't have even owned a gun, nevertheless been out there hunting. I'll bet, during the course of the trial we found out that he was either high or drunk at the time of shooting.

[MikeWalking]

Got an idea...

Can one of the Site Administrators set up a way for us to send an Ecard through the Sheriffs office?

[Ray]

I'm all for wishing someone a speedy recovery but our site is not geared for that suggestion. In addition to that I don't have any desire to contact the sheriff's office and speak with them on the matter.

[MikeWalking]

'nuff said.

[GoldTip]

This is a horrible tragedy.  I hope the shooting was an accident, but hope the shooter does some serious jail time as he was not even supposed to be in posession of a firearm, and that in and of itself demonstrates an utter disregard for the law.  Best wishes to the man who was shot.

[Crunchy]

I say criminal history check before you can buy a hunting license.  But I'm sure a bunch of liberals would have a heart attack about "their" rights.

[huntingnut]

If you can't posses a firearm how is it legal to have a hunting license. I know you can hunt with a bow that is not considered a firearm, but you have a criminal record that won't allow you to posses a firearm, you are not of right mind to hunting.

[popeshawnpaul]

He is a three time convicted felon.  While he lost his gun rights, there is nothing to say he couldn't have had those restored by a court...  He has multiple law violations including a fish/game violation.  When they sell you a hunting license they don't have the ability at this time to check criminal history.  Even if they could, it wouldn't tell you everything you need to know.

He was charged with two felonies from what I can tell, unlawful possession of a firearm and assault third degree.  If he was shooting at a coyote as he says, he just admitted to at least two more criminal game/law violations that he hasn't been charged with...  My guess, he'll plea to one charge, they'll dismiss the other, and he'll do a short time in jail. 

Shawn