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Billy Jack Gomez

((Linn Couty jail))

A mother's day family barbecue went horribly wrong Sunday and ended with a Lebanon man in custody for attempted murder and unlawful use of a weapon after he fired a high caliber rifle at his brother.

The Linn County Sherriff's Office said Peggy L Gomez, a 55-year-old Lebanon resident, was having a Mother's Day barbecue with her sons, 34-year-old Hunter Gomez, and 35-year-old Billy Jack Gomez. Both of them live at the home in 100 block of Vaughn Lane, in a residential area of Lebanon.

Police said the two sons had a scuffle before the barbecue, and as Hunter Gomez was preparing the grill, Billy Jack Gomez went inside and retrieved a high caliber rifle. He fired the gun from inside the residence, through the screen door, and narrowly missed Hunter Gomez.

Linn County Sheriff's deputies responded to the reported shooting and found no one had been injured. Billy Jack Gomez was arrested on charges of attempted murder and unlawful use of a weapon.

- Ted Sickinger

503-221-8505; @tedsickinger