Red Bluff >> The Tehama County Sheriff’s Department have released details about a robbery turned homicide Friday afternoon on a hiking trail off of State Route 36E.

While a press release issued Saturday afternoon about the shooting gives a clearer picture of what happened, the suspect remains at large.

Francis “Pat” Gregory, a 69-year-old man from West Tisbury, Mass. was hiking with a 76-year-old friend from Manton at the Iron Canyon Trail part of the Sacramento River Bend Outstanding Natural Area Friday afternoon.

Sometime between 11:30 a.m. and noon they encountered a white man, described as around 6 feet tall with a thin build and short black hair and a black mustache or beard.

The man produced a firearm and demanded money and personal items from Gregory and his friend.

After the robbery was completed the man shot the victims and left them in a remote area about 100 yards from the trailhead parking lot.

The suspect was wearing dark colored denim pants and a dark or black t-shirt with an unknown design on the front of it.

About three hours after the shooting an uninvolved hiker came upon the two men and hiked back to the trail head to notify emergency services.

Gregory died at the scene from his injuries.

The Manton man was suffering from gunshot wounds and airlifted by medical personnel to an area hospital for treatment.

As of Saturday morning he was listed as stable, but in critical condition.

Detectives from the Tehama County Sheriff’s Office are actively investigating the incident.

Detectives are asking for assistance from the public from anyone that may have been at the Iron Canyon Trail Head or in the area of the trail head between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Friday. Also if anyone has seen or recognizes a person that matches the description of the suspect listed that may have been in the area or frequents the area where this homicide occurred.

The Iron Canyon Trail Head is located approximately five miles north on State Route 36E from State Route 99E in Red Bluff. It is about a mile north of Seven Mile Creek.

If anyone has information about the investigation contact Detective Jeff Garrett at 530-529-7920, ext. 3032 or contact the Tehama County Sheriff’s Department at 529-7900.

Gregory was a well-liked, highly respected man in his community back in Massachusetts, Martha’s Vineyard Times editor Nelson Sigelman said in an email to the Daily News Saturday.

Gregory was the town moderator for decades in West Tisbury.

He was vacationing in the area with his wife.