Beaverton Accidental Shooting Kills One, Injures Another

Date: April 18, 2011
Location: 3700 Block of Southwest 117th Avenue, Beaverton
Names: Phillip Wilson, Preston Wilson, Darrell Dean Laffoon

Two brothers were shot and injured, one critically, in an accidental shooting at their Beaverton home.
At about 8:00 pm police were called to a residence at a trailer park in the 3700 block of Southwest 117th Avenue in Beaverton. Brothers Phillip and Preston Wilson lived there with Darrell Dean Laffoon, age 60.

Police investigators discovered that Laffoon had taken out his handgun to try to stop a fight that broke out between the brothers. During a struggle, the gun discharged and struck the men. According to police reports, the men had been drinking together before the shooting.

The gun was registered to Laffoon and he has a concealed weapons permit.

Preston Wilson, age 36, sustained a gunshot wound to his finger, and was treated and released from a local hospital. Phillip Wilson, age 31, suffered a life-threatening gunshot wound to his head and died of his injuries on Wednesday April 20 at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center.

Darrell Dean Laffoon, who had originally been arrested after the shooting incident on first-degree assault charges, now faces a first-degree manslaughter charge. First-degree manslaughter is a Measure 11 crime that carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison.

There are many people who are sending their thoughts and prayers to the Wilson family. We sincerely hope Preston will not have any long-lasting effects from his injury.

There are obviously still questions about what happened in this accident. How will the injured pay for the medical bills that are already piling up? Is there any insurance and how much will it pay? To answer these questions, it may take some time, but Wilson family members should start to research their options now. There is evidence to collect. Reports to file. A knowledgeable attorney can help. If you still have questions, like how to find a good Portland injury lawyer, choosing the right law firm for you, or rules to know when looking for an attorney, please don’t hesitate to call (503) 222-4411. We can answer some very important questions up front, for free.