MOLALLA -- A man is fair condition today after he was mistakenly shot by his brother-in-law, who believed a marauding cougar had returned Monday night to their property south of Molalla.



Carl Cline, 56, remains in OHSU Hospital, where he is being treated for a gunshot wound to his arm.



Sgt. James Rhodes, Clackamas County Sheriff's Office spokesman, said Cline went out into an open field at their property at 15555 S. Herman Road near to watch fireworks that neighbors were launching shortly after 10 p.m.



At the same time, his brother-in-law, Virgil Foster, 60, saw a shadow and thought a cougar that had been killing livestock in the area had returned. Foster grabbed a .30-30 deer rifle and shot at the shadow, which was about 50 yards away. Cline told police he heard an explosion, then felt a sharp pain in his arm.



In the ensuing moments, the two figured out what had happened and Foster's wife called 9-1-1.



Foster, a nurse, then administered first aid until a Molalla Fire District medical crew arrived. After Cline was stabilized, he was taken by ambulance to OHSU Hospital.



Rhodes said an investigation into the incident is continuing.





-- Rick Bella Follow @southnewshound pt src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" type="text/javascript">