Police Investigate Homicide of George Bundy Wasson
Subsequent Carjacking of Two Victims at Kinsrow
Eugene Police Violent Crimes Unit detectives and Arson investigators are continuing to investigate two related incidents that occurred March 19, 2014:
a fire that occurred at Elk Avenue around 12:36 a.m. on March 19, in which George Bundy Wasson, age 79, was shot and killed. A person of interest in this case is Ricardo Antonio Chaney, age 32, of Eugene. A fire was started after Wasson’s shooting. Chaney was acquainted with Wasson’s family.
A subsequent carjacking at 1:12 a.m. on March 19, in which two males in their 20s were robbed at gun-point of a black 2006 BMW, four-door, 330i. The two victims were leaving their house, when they encountered Chaney and were forced into the trunk of the car. They were able to escape prior to leaving the parking lot, and call 9-1-1. Both were unharmed.
Subsequently, investigators provided an all-points bulletins to Oregon and surrounding states’ law enforcement agencies. There were escalating manhunts for Chaney in Oregon and then in California at around 10:30 a.m. when there was an armed confrontation believed to be involving Chaney. Two Eugene Police detectives were enroute to California when it was learned that Chaney had shot Menocino County Sheriff’s Deputy Ricky Del Fiorentino, age 48 of Fort Bragg, CA. Chaney was subsequently killed in a shootout with California law enforcement.
Eugene Police detectives have notified Wasson’s family of the circumstances surrounding his death and also re-contacted the carjacking victims. Both victims reported they were fine and offered heartfelt condolences to the families of Wasson and Del Fiorentino.
Police are continuing to investigate Wasson’s murder and are working with Mendocino County public safety officials on the related cases.
Chaney’s last Eugene Police contract occurred late on March 6, 2014, when two officers were dispatched to the area of Monroe Street Park regarding the possible location of stolen property. Officers tracked pinging to a stolen cell phone using GPS, and located a vehicle
where the pinging had last been reported. The officers were not able to identify any stolen property in the vehicle, and were denied consent to search it by the registered owner and suspect, Ricardo Antonio Chaney, age 32. Chaney was given permission to leave, but was then observed committing several traffic violations. Once officers stopped him, they found he did not have vehicle insurance. During the impound search of the vehicle, officers found several firearms including a modified AR-15 and body armor, located in the glove box and trunk of the vehicle. Upon further inspection, the AR-15 appeared to be modified and was sent to Oregon State Police for testing. Chaney was arrested for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, and Possession of Meth.
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