NW Bend homeowner shoots, kills intruder

A northwest Bend homeowner returned home, confronted a man who had apparently broken in and fatally shot him during a fight, police confirmed late Monday, releasing the names of those involved in the ongoing investigation.

Kevin Perry returned to his home at 2461 NW Awbrey Road around 12:40 a.m. Sunday, accompanied by Amanda Weinman, 33, of Eugene, and found the front door had been forced in, said Lt. Paul Kansky.

Perry and his companion entered the home and encountered a man identified as Shane Michael Munoz, 33, of Bend, in the living room, Kansky said.

A fight ensued, involving all three people, the lieutenant said – and during that altercation, Perry shot Munoz, who was pronounced dead at the scene after police were called to the home.

Perry and Weinman sustained minor injuries, apparently during the altercation, Kansky said.

An autopsy took place Monday at the state Medical Examiner’s Office near Portland, and police were awaiting word on the cause of Munoz’s death, Kansky said.

No arrests have been made, Kansky said, adding that the investigation is continuing.

A flower pot sat outside the home Monday, placed by a friend of Munoz, who talked with NewsChannel 21 on-camera but didn’t want to be identified.

“I’m trying to pick up the pieces and figure out why this happened to him,” the friend said. “I see the story that is out there that they are calling it breaking and entering and burglary and all these things, and I just want to make sure that people know or that there is some account of who Shane was.”

He said Munoz was a great friend and the father of a 5-year-old boy.

“The son, Mekhia, is going to go through the rest of his life without his dad,” the friend said. “That was the thing that Shane loved more than anything in the world was his son. He talked about him all the time. That he was such a proud father and it just breaks my heart.”

He says he just can’t understand what would have lead to the burglary.

“I don’t know what would have lead to him getting shot,” the friend said. “I couldn’t imagine, I’ve never seen him in a altercation or anything in my life.”

He says Shane was a good person who was never malicious.

“He’s not somebody I would in a million years assume that this would be the end of his life,” the friend said. “That he would be shot and accused of the things he has been accused of.”

On Sunday, police detectives obtained a search warrant and searched the home for evidence, assisted by the Oregon State Police Crime Lab, Kansky said.

Kansky’s brief news release Sunday stated, “It has been determined that there is not any concern of danger to the community at this time related to this incident.”

Neighbors watched the goings-on and wondered just what had happened. Some neighbors we talked to off-camera said they thought they may have heard a loud gunshot Saturday night but weren’t sure.

“Yeah, they (police) have been there all day, I think,” said neighbor Mark Waters. “I took off and went for a bike ride this afternoon, and then I saw that the Oregon State Police Forensics Team had showed up, too, so obviously it had to be something serious.”

Waters said, “Somebody’s going to try to break into a house or commit some kind of criminal act, people have a right to defend themselves. Again, I don’t know the facts or the circumstances, but it’s unfortunate.”