Deschutes County, OR – A workplace dispute at a Sisters restaurant Tuesday morning sparked a shooting and brief police pursuit along Highway 20 before the suspect was taken into custody, according to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies say 31-year-old Kristopher Kirkpatrick entered Spoons Restaurant around 8:19 a.m., posing as a customer before confronting a former colleague and allegedly shooting him in the face at close range with a Saber pistol—a launcher that fires pepper balls and rubber bullets. The suspect reportedly continued firing multiple rounds as he chased the victim through the restaurant.
Kirkpatrick then fled in a truck toward Bend, prompting deputies to initiate a pursuit. Law enforcement used a Pursuit Immobilization Technique (PIT) maneuver near Plainview Road, successfully stopping the vehicle. Kirkpatrick was arrested without further incident.
The victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries but suffered bruising and swelling from the rubber projectiles. He was treated at St. Charles-Bend Hospital for further evaluation.
Although the weapon used was a less-lethal launcher, deputies said its power and Kirkpatrick’s close-range use posed serious danger, especially when aimed at the victim’s face. Detectives emphasized that his actions appeared intended to cause harm or death.
No other injuries were reported, and investigators believe the victim was the sole target. The case remains under investigation.
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