CHESAW – The Okanogan County Sheriff’s office is investigating the fatal shooting of a grouse hunter on Pontiac Ridge near Chesaw Monday evening as a homicide.

According to Sheriff Frank Rogers, deputies responded to a report of a shooting on Cow Camp Road at around 7:15 p.m. When they arrived they found one subject who had been shot and was pronounced dead at the scene.

“What we do know is that two subjects were in the area grouse hunting, neither subject is from this area but living on the west side of the state. Apparently the one subject got out of the vehicle to shoot at a grouse. The passenger in the vehicle said he then heard a shot and saw his partner with blood on him and then saw him fall to the ground,” said Sheriff Rogers.

The other hunter then drove from the scene to another residence in the area where he was able to call law enforcement.

The shooting occurred near a residence and deputies have interviewed people in the area including the two subjects living at the residence, which was approximately 100 yards away.

“We are treating this as a murder investigation but no arrests have been made at this time. We do have people of interest and detectives are still on scene,” said Rogers.

The Washington State Patrol Crime Lab has also been called to assist in processing the scene.

“As more information comes in additional information will be released. This is the fifth murder in Okanogan County this year,” said the sheriff.

The name of the victim is being withheld at this time pending the notification of family members.