What was supposed to be a great day out on the lake with his family ended in tragedy last week as an Oregon man was shot suddenly while removing his boat at a public boat ramp.
Eric Newman, 40 of Bend, Oregon was visiting Lake Koocanusa in northern Montana with his wife and three children along with his sister-in-law and her three children. After a day out on the lake, the group returned to the boat ramp to trailer the boat they rented and presumably cook up some of the day’s catch.
An altercation ensued, which is nothing new at boat ramps, but in this case, ended in bloodshed. While it remains unclear what exactly was said, reports indicate that 51-year-old Christopher Foster of Kalispell, Montana started jawing at Newman as he was attempting to trailer his boat.
Foster was attempting to launch his boat while Newman and his family were removing theirs from the water. From what sounds like a whole lot of impatience, Foster returned to his truck after launching his boat and continued the dispute with Newman.
Lincoln County Sheriff Darren Short said that the pair continued to exchange words until something was said that prompted Foster to pull his gun. He shot Newman with his wife, sister-in-law and two of his children present.
In the midst of the terror, Foster returned to his car and was later found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The incident was ruled a murder-suicide by the sheriff’s office.
In a puzzling tale of flared tempers, we will never be sure what possibly could have been said to prompt someone to take the life of an innocent man who now leaves behind a wife and three children.
Our deepest condolences and prayers go out to the family of Eric Newman. In his honor, friends and family have set up a fundraiser to help with funeral expenses and mental health care for the victim’s family. Donations can be made here.
