Woman shot near Othello

OTHELLO — Adams County deputies are investigating an incident in which a woman was shot in the neck near Othello last week. Two men admitted to shooting a rifle in the area, but it has not been determined if the bullet that struck the woman was fired from the gun the men were shooting.

About 2:55 p.m. on Friday the Adams County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a woman with a gunshot wound to the head in the 2100 block of West Yeisley Road near Miller Road, southwest of Othello. Deputies reportedly located a woman in the area who had received a single gunshot wound to the back of the neck, according to the ACSO.

Deputies learned the woman, whose identity has not been released, was working in a field when she was struck by the bullet. She was transported to Othello Community Hospital via ambulance for treatment. A X-ray revealed the bullet was lodged in her neck and she was transported to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane for surgery and removal of the bullet.

Two men reportedly told deputies they were shooting an AR-15 rifle in a pit that is “commonly” used for target practice about half a mile from where the victim was shot. The rifle and ammunition were seized as evidence. The rifle, ammunition and bullet will be sent to the Washington State Crime Laboratory for ballistics to determine if the bullet that struck the victim was fired from the seized AR-15.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing and no arrests have been made.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.