Prineville, Ore. – Prineville Police have confirmed that a violent incident reported Friday is now being investigated as a homicide, following the arrest of a suspect over the weekend.
At approximately 11:45 a.m. on June 27, Prineville dispatch received a 911 call regarding a disturbance in the 800 block of NW 10th Street. The initial report indicated “two victims were involved in a disturbance and had significant injuries,” and that “a possible third victim was also injured,” according to a press release from the department.
Responding officers from the Prineville Police Department, Crook County Sheriff’s Office, and Oregon State Police arrived on the scene and “located the two male victims who were injured.” A third individual was found inside the residence and “was pronounced deceased at the scene.”
The department initially classified the incident as a “suspicious death,” but now confirms that “this incident is now being investigated as a homicide.”
According to the updated statement, the Major Investigations Team (MIT) responded immediately to initiate the investigation. The department said the investigation “revealed that one of the initial subjects taken to the hospital was the suspect in the death of the third victim.”
On June 28, Martin Ray Terry, 36, was arrested and booked into the Crook County Jail. He is currently charged with Murder in the Second Degree, Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, and Assault in the First Degree. Police noted that “further charges are pending a review by the Crook County District Attorney’s Office.”
The names of the deceased and injured victims have not been released. “The homicide and assault victim names are not being released at this time out of respect for the family,” the release stated.
The Prineville Police Department also thanked numerous partner agencies for assisting with the response and investigation, including the Crook County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police and Crime Lab, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Bend Police Department, Redmond Police Department, Crook County District Attorney’s Office, State Medical Examiner’s Office, and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. The department also gave “special thanks to the Crook County Fire and Rescue and the City of Prineville Public Works Department.”
In a message to the public, the department stated:
“The Prineville Police Department would like to extend our sincere condolences to the victims of this tragedy and their families. We thank the community for their patience and understanding in the release of information about this incident. This was a complex investigation and disseminating accurate information is critically important. Not jeopardizing the integrity of the investigation by releasing detailed facts about the case is also a primary concern,” said the department late Sunday.
“We appreciate the support of all community members in keeping Prineville a safe place to live, work and play!”
Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to contact the Prineville Police Department at 541-447-4168 or email Sergeant Jordan Zamora at [email protected].
The investigation is ongoing, and no additional details are being released at this time.
