Man claims self-defense in slaying

An Oregon man being held in the Lawrence County Jail in the Saturday night shooting death of co-worker Timothy Thornsberry allegedly told officers that night, "I shot him but it was in self-defense."

Alan J. Schaedler, 41, of Eugene, Ore., has been charged with second degree murder and armed criminal action in connection with the shooting of Thornsberry, 36, of Coos Bay, Ore., county officials said. Bond had not yet been set. He is scheduled to be in court March 24.

According to a probable cause statement released Monday by the Lawrence County Associate Circuit Clerk's office, officers were called to Room 18 of the USA Inn shortly after 10 p.m. about a shooting that had just taken place. The Lawrence County Sheriff's Department dispatch said a male caller reported a shooting had just occurred there, the statement said.

When Officers J. Brian Dean and Shawn Cobb arrived on the scene, they found a man later identified as Schaedler, standing outside of Room 18.
As the officers got out of their cars, Schaedler told them, "I shot him but it was in self-defense," the court statement said. Officer Dean asked the man who was involved and he stated, "I was."
Schaedler was placed under arrest and advised of his rights, the court statement said. He was not questioned at that time, but transported to the Lawrence County Jail and later interviewed.

Inside Room 18 the officers found a man identified as Thornsberry lying face down near the center of the room, the probable cause statement said. Thornsberry had a large blood spot near the center area of his shirt, and officers did not detect a pulse.
Lawrence County Coroner Don Laken pronounced the man dead at the scene, the statement said.
The two men had been staying at the motel while working on barn construction in the area, officers said.
Schaedler told officers that before the incident, he had been lying on his bed in the motel room. Thornsberry had been drinking rum and appeared to be intoxicated, and was upset because of a telephone conversation he had been having with his girlfriend, Schaedler said in the probable cause statement.

Schaedler said he decided to get up and get dressed to leave the room for a while because of Thornsberry's state, the statement said.
Schaedler told police that Thornsberry began directing his rage at Shaedler, so he decided to leave the room, the statement said.
As Schaedler prepared to leave the room, Thornsberry began walking toward him, stating that his fists were "lethal weapons," according to the probable cause statement.

"Alan Shaedler stated that due to the threatening manner of Tim Thornsberry, Alan Schaedler picked up his .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol from the night stand, where it is normally kept," the document said. "Alan Schaedler said that he took (the) pistol out of the holster and pointed it at Tim Thornsberry demanding that he move away, so he could leave the room."
According to the statement, Schaedler said Thornsberry backed up a step and made several comments about Schaedler pulling a pistol on him. Schaedler stated that after Thornsberry backed away, he put the pistol back into the holster. When this was done, Thornsberry again began approaching Schaedler in a threatening manner.
Schaedler again pulled the pistol from the holster, the statement said. Schaedler said that he raised the pistol and pointed it at Thornsberry. Schaedler said that he then flipped the safety off the pistol. According to the statement, when Thornsberry took another step, Schaedler said the pistol went off.
After the pistol was shot, Schaedler said Thornsberry put his hands to his chest and said "You just shot me." Then he stepped back and fell face down on the floor, the statement said.

Crazy stuff, that's for sure!

He was survived by our daughter who is eight yrs old. Timothy is my x- husband all prayers for his daughter would be appreciated.