Ax attack. (Exercising the Right).

Siltcoos Resort is an apartment and mobile home complex located in the Westlake area of Dunes City, Oregon. Byron Lee Sanchez, 28, was living at the resort while doing some apartment repairs when, shortly after 9 p.m. on December 17, 2001, he heard a commotion in one of the units. Moments later he heard a second disturbance in another apartment, so went to investigate. When he opened the door, he witnessed a man armed with an ax attacking another man. Armed with a handgun, Sanchez reportedly yelled for the attacker to stop and, when he did not, fired a warning shot. The assailant paused long enough to slam the door shut. When Sanchez reopened it, and saw that the assault was continuing, he fired at the ax-wielder. The bullet may have missed, since the man seemed unfazed, so Sanchez fired a second shot, this time striking him in the torso. Seriously wounded, Jimmie Douglas Davis, 35, went down. According to the December 19th Eugene Register-Guard, "In the eyes of some Siltcoos Resort residents, Sanchez is a he ro" for rescuing "the 51-year-old resident."

In addition to the male victim, Davis had allegedly attacked a 34-year-old woman earlier in another apartment, apparently the initial commotion heard by Sanchez. Neighbors told Register-Guard reporter Larry Bacon that Davis had been staying with sundry residents at the complex and had argued with both victims.

The female victim was treated at a hospital in nearby Florence. The male victim, suffering from fractured ribs and cuts to his upper torso, was reported in serious condition at a Portland hospital, as was Davis, suffering from at least one chest wound.

Davis was not scheduled to be released from the hospital until the day after Christmas, but shortly before noon on December 21st he walked away. He was apprehended later that night, returned to the hospital for a few hours, then taken to jail. Pending the filing of charges in the ax incident, he was held under outstanding warrants for failure to appear in one county, and burglary in another.