Assault East of Coos Bay, July 17

News release from the Coos Co. Sheriff’s Office.  On 7/16/2014 at about 2:50 AM, Coos County Sheriff’s Deputies, Oregon State Police and BLM Law Enforcement Ranger responded to a report of an assault, with shots fired, at a residence located at 96040 Stock Slough Lane, east of Coos Bay.  Upon arrival they found a male victim that had been assaulted, he was identified as 23 year old Kyle Wechter, of Coos Bay.  Investigation indicated that Joseph Killingsworth, age 27, and Johnny Moore, age 26, both transients camping on BLM land at the end of Stock Slough, had gone to the address on Stock Slough lane, with several aggressive dogs and a baseball bat.  They had gone there as they believed Mr. Wechter had reported them to BLM as trespassers.  The investigation revealed that both Joseph Wechter and Johnny Moore assaulted Kyle Wechter using the bat causing extensive head, face and back injuries.  In an attempt to escape after the attack the victim was able to obtain a shotgun from his home and fired two rounds from the shotgun into the air causing both men to flee the scene.  The two suspects fled to a nearby residence and then called police to report that they had been shot at.  The victim was transported to Bay Area Hospital by Bay Cities Ambulance and treated.  Mr. Killingsworth and Mr. Moore were arrested, transported to the Coos County Jail and lodged.  Each is facing a charge of Assault II.