On January 8, 2023, 27-year-old Kade Riley Nichol of Prineville, Oregon, was shot and killed at the Wild Horse Mesa Apartments. Nichol, who was intoxicated and grieving the recent loss of a close friend, had been exchanging tense texts earlier that day with 29-year-old Darrien Ruiz. The men’s friendship had broken down over Ruiz’s relationship with Nichol’s wife, and Nichol had told others he intended to fight Ruiz if he attended a mutual friend’s funeral.

Nichol drove to Ruiz’s apartment and tried to lure him into the parking lot. When Ruiz refused, Nichol went upstairs and attempted to force his way into the apartment. An altercation followed; Nichol punched Ruiz and pushed him back into the apartment, where Ruiz’s girlfriend and an 8-year-old daughter were present. Ruiz fired a gun, striking Nichol, who left the apartment and collapsed in a stairwell. Nichol was pronounced dead at the scene.

Ruiz cooperated with investigators, locked his apartment after the shooting, and asked his girlfriend to call 911. He was detained for questioning; a man was arrested in connection with the shooting and the Crook County District Attorney said a grand jury would review the case. Does anyone have information about the events at Wild Horse Mesa Apartments that afternoon?