Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan reports that on October 10, 2026, at approximately 5:48 p.m., the Linn County Sheriff’s Office dispatch center received a 911 call reporting a shooting at a residence in the 24000 block of Springer Road near Sweet Home.
Deputies arrived and found Robert Alan Church, 54, of Sweet Home, suffering from a gunshot wound. Deputies and Sweet Home Fire Department paramedics attempted lifesaving measures, but Robert Church died at the scene.
Investigators determined Robert Church was struck by a bullet fired by a hunter on Springer Road. The hunter partially field dressed a deer, then left the area with it.
The investigation is ongoing. The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone who was in the area of Springer Road, accessed from Upper Calapooia Drive or Childers Drive near Brush Creek Road, on the evening of October 10 to contact Detective Derek Klein at (541) 967-3950. Investigators are especially interested in vehicles seen parked along Springer Road, anyone seen with a deer, gunshots heard around that time, and any trail camera or surveillance footage from the area.