Man shot, killed by hunter near Sweet Home, deputies say
10/12/2026
Deputies say a man was shot and killed by a hunter Saturday afternoon on a rural property south of Sweet Home in Linn County.
The Linn County Sheriff’s Office said someone called 9-1-1 dispatchers at about 5:45 p.m. Saturday to report a shooting at a home in the 24000 block of Springer Road near Sweet Home.
First responders found Robert Alan Church, 54, of Sweet Home, with a gunshot wound. Deputies and paramedics started life-saving efforts, however, Church died at the scene.
“Investigators determined Robert Church was struck by a bullet fired by a hunter on Springer Road,” the sheriff’s office said. “The hunter partially field dressed a deer, then left the area with it.”
Investigators are asking anyone who was near Springer Road, either getting there from Upper Calapooia Driver or Childers Drive near Brush Creek Road, 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,” the sheriff’s office said.