In the early morning hours of August 19, 2021, the quiet of Gold Hill, Oregon, was shattered by the sound of gunshots and screaming. Thomas James Watters, a 24-year-old White male, was found unconscious and not breathing on the 500 block of Gustaf Street. Despite the efforts of emergency responders who arrived at the scene, Watters was pronounced dead at 4:20 a.m. from multiple gunshot wounds.
The incident prompted an investigation by the Jackson County Sheriff's Office and the Major Assault and Death Investigation Unit.
Within a short time, law enforcement received a report on the location of a suspect. At approximately 4:17 a.m., Wiley River Foxx, an 18-year-old from Gold Hill, was located and detained without incident. Foxx was subsequently arrested and lodged at the Jackson County jail on a charge of second-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Thomas Watters.
Following his arrest, Wiley River Foxx pleaded not guilty to the charge against him. The case has been proceeding through the legal system, with multiple attempts to settle the case. The trial has faced delays, with the defense counsel continuing to investigate the case and conduct witness interviews. As of early 2024, a trial in Jackson County Circuit Court was scheduled to begin in January 2025. The prosecution has expressed a desire to bring the case to trial to provide a sense of closure for the victim's family.
