It has come to our attention that Gavin Epperson has posted on social media regarding his alleged involvement in the shooting death of Richard A. Mann. The investigation into this incident is ongoing. It is still too early in the investigation to implicate or fully exonerate any of the involved parties or their actions.  The community rightfully holds the expectation that the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office acts only on the facts and evidence related to this case without bias or assumptions.

Prior Releases:

February 24th, 2021: Investigators have interviewed several witnesses and gathered additional evidence related to the events surrounding the shooting death of Richard A. Mann.  Law enforcement would like to interview 23-year-old Donovan Eugene Carey-Bennett as a witness to the incident. Anyone who is in contact with Carey-Bennett or has information regarding his whereabouts is asked to contact Detective Abby Dorsey at 541-265-0777.

Richard A. Mann was found deceased on the morning of February 20th, 2021 near Government Hill Rd in Siletz, Oregon.  The Medical Examiner determined his death was caused by gunfire.

On February 23rd, 2021, investigators from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police, Lincoln City Police Department, and Newport Police Department executed search warrants on two residences in the 500 block of Tolowa Court in Siletz.  A vehicle and evidence were seized as a result of the search warrants.

On February 20, 2021, at approximately 6:15 am, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch received a call reporting an unconscious male laying alongside the road near Government Hill Road in Siletz, Oregon.

Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene and located Richard Allen Mann, 36, of Logsden, deceased. Evidence at the scene suggested foul play. The Lincoln County Major crime team was activated, and the investigation is ongoing.

The Sheriff’s Office is being assisted by the Oregon State Police Criminal Investigation Unit (CID), Oregon State Police Forensics, Toledo Police, Newport Police, Lincoln City Police and the Lincoln County District Attorney’s Office.