Reward Offered for Information on 2007 Highway 26 Shooting (AUDIO)

The reward is being offered by Crime Stoppers.

This is a sketch of what the victims and police believe the man may look like. Image: Oregon State Police

(ZIG ZAG, Ore.) - It would be hard to describe this audio recording of a man calling police after he and his friend had both been shot as anything less than chilling.

The men had spent the day with youngsters snowboarding before they were the victims of a highway shooting. You can play the clip from the audio bar at the bottom of the story.

The Oregon State Police and Crimes Stoppers are asking for the public's help in identifying and locating the suspect responsible for the December 2007 shooting of two men on Highway 26 in the Zig Zag area.

Officer Catherine Kent with the Portland Police Bureau says it happened Monday, December 10th 2007, at 10:00 PM.

33-year old Joseph Langley and 32-year old Joshua Gehrke were returning from a snowboarding evening in the Government Camp area with Gehrke's 9-year old son, and his son's 9-year old friend.

"They were traveling westbound on Highway 26 near E. Lolo Pass Road, and as they approached Rhododendron, a passenger car reportedly began following too closely behind the Gehrke's van."

According to Kent, the two men pulled their van onto the shoulder to allow the vehicle to pass, but instead of passing, the vehicle stopped behind their van.

"The victims got out of the van, walked toward the suspect vehicle and became involved in a short verbal exchange with the suspect. Shortly after, the suspect fired a handgun at the victims, striking both men. The suspect vehicle fled the scene westbound," Kent said.

The suspect has been described as a white male in his 30's, wearing a baseball cap. The vehicle he was driving has been described as a dark green, 1999 to early 2000 Honda Civic.

A composite drawing of the suspect and a photograph of the type of vehicle were released to the public on December 28th 2007. Both are being released again this week to help identify the suspect.

Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information, reported to Crime Stoppers, that leads to an arrest in this case, or any unsolved felony, and you remain anonymous. Call Crime Stoppers at (503) 823-HELP (4357).