Wasco County DA: Father called 911 to say he shot son

The Wasco County district attorney said Tuesday his office is investigating as a homicide a fatal shooting over the weekend in which a father called 911 dispatchers to report he had shot his son.

The incident occurred early Saturday in the small community of Pine Grove, located west of Maupin and north of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation.

District Attorney Eric Nisley told NewsChannel 21 that John William Dames Sr., 76, called 911 around 6 a.m. on Saturday and told dispatchers he had shot his son, John William Dames Jr., 46.

Sheriff’s deputies responded to the home and located the victim, who Nisley said died of a gunshot wound to the chest.

Dames Sr. was not arrested, the DA said, and is currently at a “care facility,” away from Pine Grove.

The Wasco County Crime Team was activated for an investigation that is still ongoing, Nisley said.

Nisley also said the fatal shooting was an isolated incident and there is no public threat at this time.