Snorkeler mistaken for nutria in shooting
‘The man arrested for shooting a snorkeler in the Smith River near here on Tuesday told police he believed he was shooting at a large rodent. [..]
Roderick told detectives he was house-sitting a home on Tuesday when he saw what he believed to be a nutria swimming in the river about 2 p.m. Roderick went onto the deck of the house and fired at the object with a .22-caliber rifle, police said.
When Roderick realized he had shot a person, he went to the shore and tried to get help for the snorkeler, 44-year-old John Chessman of Marcola. Chessman, who suffered one gunshot to the head, was listed in serious condition at OHSU in Portland on Wednesday.’
