PRINEVILLE, OR -- The Crook County Sheriff is releasing details of last week's triple fatal shooting - an apparent murder-suicide. Sheriff John Gautney says 39-year-old Joe Christopher Hight lived on SE Umatilla Loop in Prineville with his 70-year-old father, Joe Preston Hight and 11-year-old son, Aiden. "On the 21st, we got a call about noon; a neighbor had not seen them for several days, and had gone over to check," Gautney says that's when the bodies were discovered.

Investigators determined Hight shot both his father, Joe Preston Hight, and his son, Aiden, "They all died of a gunshot wound. The elderly gentleman, the 70-year-old, and the 11-year-old both had received gunshot wounds; and then Joe Christopher Hight died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound." Sheriff Gautney tells KBND News, "Over the weekend, we were able to make a positive identification on all three of the persons that were involved in this." He adds, "The case is closed at this point."

Gautney hopes the community can begin to heal, "This was a very tragic event for all that [was] involved, the family most especially, and the first responders, so it's been a very tough case to have to investigate."