On a spring afternoon in the rural landscape of Enterprise, Oregon, a day of recreational shooting turned into a tragedy. Emanuel "Bill" John Ziegler, a 77-year-old White male from Kennewick, Washington, died on May 14, 2024, from what authorities have described as an unfortunate and tragic accident. Ziegler was with friends on private property located on Elk Mountain Road, where they were riding ATVs and shooting ground squirrels.
At approximately 5:05 PM, the Wallowa County Sheriff's
Office 911 Center received an emergency call reporting a possible shooting in the area. When deputies from the Sheriff's Office, along with Oregon State Police and Emergency Medical Services, arrived at the scene, they found Ziegler deceased from a single gunshot wound. He died before he could be transported to a hospital.
An investigation into the incident was conducted by the Wallowa County Sheriff's Office, the Oregon State Police, the Wallowa County District Attorney's Office, and the Wallowa County Medical Examiner. The investigation determined that Ziegler had accidentally shot himself while engaged in the shooting activity with his friends. Authorities found no evidence to suggest that the death was anything other than a tragic accident. Consequently, there have been no arrests or suspects identified in connection with the incident.
Ziegler was a retired superintendent for Central Pre-Mix, where he had worked for 40 years, and had been a resident of the Tri-Cities area for 47 years. He was an active member of his community in Kennewick, where he was instrumental in starting a Knights of Columbus Council at the Catholic Parish of the Holy Spirit and was a frequent volunteer for the church and the council.
