On a summer day in Woodburn, Oregon, the tranquility of a blueberry farm was shattered by gunfire, leaving three people dead and one critically injured. Among the victims was Ruben Rigoberto-Reyes, a 60-year-old man. The shooting, which occurred on June 27, 2016, also claimed the lives of Edmundo Amaro-Bajonero, 26, and Katie Gildersleeve, 30. A fourth person was seriously wounded but survived the attack.
Deputies from the Marion County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene to find a
grim tableau of violence. Two of the victims were already deceased, while Gildersleeve was rushed to a hospital where she later succumbed to her injuries. The surviving victim was also transported for medical treatment and was eventually able to speak with investigators. Both Rigoberto-Reyes and Amaro-Bajonero resided at the farm. Gildersleeve was the girlfriend of another resident who was not present during the incident.
A manhunt for the shooter ensued, and a few hours later, law enforcement officers apprehended Bonifacio Oseguera-Gonzalez, 29, on Interstate 84, about 100 miles away from the farm. During questioning, Oseguera-Gonzalez reportedly admitted to shooting four people. He was subsequently charged with three counts of aggravated murder and one count of attempted murder. In his initial court appearance, he pleaded not guilty to the charges.
While authorities did not immediately release a motive for the deadly assault, it was noted that Oseguera-Gonzalez was known to frequent the berry farm. The investigation also brought to light that he was a Mexican national who had been deported from the United States six times prior to the killings. The tragic event left the community in shock and mourning for the lives lost in the violent rampage.
