BEND, OR -- A Bend man faces charges in connection with an Alfalfa area shooting that left another man dead. The body of 53-year-old Neil Martell was found June 30th near Mayfield Pond. Detectives had speculated the shooting was accidental.
Previous Coverage: DCSO Investigates Deadly Shooting
Over the last couple weeks, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office detective unit developed a person of interest in the case, identified as 39-year-old Jesse Aaron Ray. Detectives say they located evidence linking Ray to the shooting and learned Ray was living out of his car in the area of Stevens Road and 27th Street in Bend.
Wednesday at about 5:30 AM, detectives and members of the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team served a search warrant on Ray and his vehicle on Stevens Road. Ray was taken into custody without incident. He was eventually cited and released for Negligent Wounding of Another and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. DCSO detectives have been working closely with the Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office and they will be reviewing this case for possible additional charges.
Any further information on this case will be released by the District Attorney’s Office.
