SPRINGFIELD – Someone was shot with a shotgun while driving on McGowan Creek Road on July 31, just before 9 p.m.
The victim, an unidentified 29-year-old man, said that he and his vehicle were shot multiple times by birdshot from a shotgun while driving on McGowan Creek Road. Despite numerous injuries from being shot, including to his face, the victim was able to flee and drive himself to responding paramedics, police said. He was transported to an area hospital and he is expected to survive.
Deputies searching the area where the shooting occurred located a man walking along McGowan Creek Road, near milepost 7.5. The man, 31-year-old Cody Michael Hays, had been carrying a gas can and claimed that his vehicle ran out of gas.
Hays denied involvement in the shooting or having possession of a shotgun. Deputies located Hays’ vehicle a short distance away. There was a shotgun in plain sight inside the vehicle.
Deputies were granted search warrants for Hays’ vehicle. Upon service of the warrant, they recovered the shotgun and discovered that it was confirmed as stolen. Birdshot shells similar to those used in the shooting were also recovered, police said.
Hays was taken into custody and lodged at the Lane County Jail. As of press time, he remains in custody on charges including Assault in the First Degree and Unlawful Use of a Weapon.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Lane County Sheriff’s Office detectives at 541-682-4150 opt. 1. Reference case LCSO Case #22-4250.
