THE DALLES, Ore. – The Dalles police have arrested an 18-year-old man in the shooting death of his younger brother.
Just after 3 a.m. Sunday, officers responded to a report of gunshot in the 1000 block of East 8th Street. Officers arrived to find 15-year-old Michael Perez-Hammond had been shot dead. Wasco County District Attorney Eric Nisley reports that Hammond suffered a single gunshot to the head.
Approximately 12-hours later, officers arrested Hammond’s older brother, Daniel Perez-Hammond, on one count of manslaughter in the first-degree.
Nisley says that Daniel is cooperating with police.
"This is just a heartbreaking tragedy," Nisley said. "We do not believe the suspect's conduct was intentional. In other words, he did not intend to kill his brother. Instead, the charge is that he was reckless, which means it is alleged he acted with an awareness of the dangerousness of his conduct, and disregarded that risk."
Daniel Perez-Hammond is scheduled to be arraigned in Wasco County Court Monday.
-- KOIN Local 6 staff
