In the quiet town of Grants Pass, Oregon, the evening of January 31, 2020, was shattered by violence. On that day, 37-year-old Joshua Wilson Wright, a man known to his friends as "Hippie," lost his life in a fatal shooting. The incident unfolded around 6:08 p.m. in the area of SW 9th and SW H Streets, prompting a swift response from local law enforcement after Josephine County 911 received a call reporting the sound of gunfire.
Upon their arrival, officers discovered one male, later
identified as Joshua Wilson Wright, deceased at the scene from a gunshot wound. The investigation into his death began immediately, with detectives from the Grants Pass Police Department and the Oregon State Police Crime Lab working through the night to process the scene for evidence. Several individuals were detained for questioning as authorities worked to piece together the events that led to the deadly encounter.
As the investigation progressed, a suspect was identified and taken into custody. Steve Daniel Cox, a 68-year-old man, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection with Wright's death. According to court documents, an argument had occurred between Wright and Cox prior to the shooting. Investigators reported that Cox admitted to shooting Wright with a shotgun with the intent to kill. Friends of Wright revealed that he and his alleged killer knew each other.
The case proceeded through the legal system, with Steven Cox facing charges of murder in the second degree and unlawful use of a weapon. His trial was scheduled to take place in June of the following year, as the community grappled with the loss of a man described as well-loved by his friends.
