Dowen Jones, the 47-year-old mayor of a tiny town called Rufus in Oregon, has been charged with attempted murder for firing multiple rounds at a vehicle containing a family during a road rage incident that took place on Halloween near Parkdale. Hood River Sheriff’s Office that there were four people inside the vehicle, including two children aged 8 and 5, when Jones fired at it.

Jones is currently lodged at the Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facility. He faces a number of charges, including attempted murder and first-degree attempted assault (four counts).

Who is Dowen Jones?

Dowen Jones is the mayor of a small city in Oregon’s called Rufus, which, according to the 2020 census, had a population of 268.

Jones won the mayoral election in 2018, and his term is set to expire on 31st December, 2022. He is not running for re-election this time.

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The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office revealed that the family were in their car behind an SUV that was “driving erratically” on Monday at around 8:45 PM. 

When they passed the car, a man came out and began shooting at them. He was later identified as Jones by investigators. He came out from the passenger side, but there has not been any information yet about the person behind the wheels.

Although the shots fired by Jones did not injure any member of the family, their car sustained damages.

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According to Rufus City Council President Scott Holliday, Jones worked as an electrician and often attended the Baptist church, where the former is a pastor.

He also said, “I think the world of him, and so do a lot of people”.