Oregon man confronting bear accidentally kills brother, then takes his own life

A man in Oregon accidentally killed his brother while trying to fend off a bear, then took his own life. 

According to Josephine County Undersheriff Travis Snyder, the man, whose identity has not been revealed, called 911 around 7 a.m. on Tuesday and told dispatchers he had “accidentally shot his brother while loading a gun” after being startled by the bear.

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Deputies then arrived at his residence in Sunny Valley, an unincorporated community off Interstate 5 in the southwest corner of the state, and found a man dead from a gunshot wound.

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The officers checked the residence and found a second man dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

“While checking the rest of the residence, a second deceased male was located with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound,” Snyder said in a statement.

“Based upon the investigation, it is believed the caller took his own life after calling 911 to report the accidental shooting.”

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Oregon, which is home to as many as 30,000 black bears, is known as “black bear country.” However, bear attacks are still relatively “uncommon,” according to local wildlife officials. 

“In most cases, a bear will avoid human contact. It is never safe to approach a bear,” Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said. 

Meanwhile, many people responded to the sheriff department’s Facebook statement on Tuesday’s incident.

“Oh gosh this is heartbreaking,” one woman commented. 

“This is so sad. Their family will be so heartbroken over losing both brothers,” another person wrote. 

Investigation into the incident was ongoing. 

“This case is still under investigation and will be forwarded to the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office,” Snyder said in a statement.