A University student remained in critical condition Tuesday after he suffered a gunshot wound to the neck Saturday morning while playing paintball in the woods outside Eugene.
Jesse McLaughlin was being treated in the intensive care unit at Sacred Heart Medical Center last night.
According to the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to Bureau of Land Management Road 19-5-22.2 after several people called 911 to report the incident.
McLaughlin was shot by Derek Eli Madsen, 28, of Veneta, while Madsen was driving with friends in four-wheel drive vehicles in the same area that McLaughlin and seven others were playing paintball. At least some of the paintballers were McLaughlin’s co-workers from IHOP in Springfield.
Police say neither group was aware of the other.
Madsen told police he fired a single shot from a small caliber rifle from one of the four-wheel drive vehicles into some brush at what he thought was an animal. After firing the round, Madsen said he saw a person dressed in camouflage step out from behind the trees.
“It’s not rare to see people recreating on federal land like McLaughlin was,” Lane County Sgt. Clint Riley said. “You can get a permit to paintball, cut down a Christmas tree, etcetera. The land is open to the public.”
Alcohol is not believed to be a factor, police said.
No arrests have been made in the case, but Riley said the District Attorney’s Office will review the case and decide whether to file charges.
University student Alicia Young, a childhood friend of McLaughlin, said McLaughlin woke from his coma Monday afternoon and has begun responding.
“We’re worried about his memory,” Young said. “He can respond to questions and can understand us – we can tell because he responds with a smile or looks at us.”
Young’s roommate, Bliss Larkin, also a University student, said she and McLaughlin are close.
“It’s been a rough, rough few days,” Larkin said. “He is the nicest man I’ve ever met in the world.”
Larkin described McLaughlin as outgoing with a funny, sarcastic personality. She said he is dependable and loves sports, especially motocross. McLaughlin is also an animal lover, Larkin said.
“He loves cats,” she said. “Cats are his favorite animal.” Larkin said McLaughlin preferred long-haired fat cats over kittens.
McLaughlin grew up in McMinnville. An account has been set up to aid his family with medical bills. To donate, contact Wells Fargo and give account number 7782541861.
An outpouring of support has surfaced on Facebook.com for McLaughlin. Two groups have been formed to support McLaughlin’s recovery – “Prayers and Pennies for Jesse” and “prayers for jesse” – both have hundreds of members.
News reporter Jill Kimball contributed to this report.
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