Law enforcement officers were summoned to a residence on the 1200 block of Minnesota St. in Coos Bay Sunday afternoon to a report of an assault. When officers arrived they found 80-year old Elmer Lloyd Dennis deceased near his garage. According to a news release from Coos Co. District Attorney R. Paul Frasier, “we are not revealing the cause of the death at this time but is clear that Mr. Dennis died of homicidal violence.” A suspect has been identified as 29-year old James Jay Thomasson, the deceased’s grandson. He was found hiding under a deck on the property and would not come out. Officers used a “Tazer to gain his compliance.” Thomasson was transported to Bay Area Hospital for observation. The Coos Co. Major Crime Team has been activated to investigate the case.
