East Wenatchee, WA – A stretch of US Highway 97 near Orondo remained closed for several hours Wednesday after deputies discovered an unresponsive man inside a vehicle in what authorities are calling a homicide investigation.
According to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, first responders were dispatched at approximately 12:14 p.m. Wednesday to a report of an unresponsive male near milepost 228 on US-97. Deputies, Washington State Patrol, Douglas County Fire District #4, and Lake Chelan Health EMS arrived and found a single male occupant who was not breathing. Despite life-saving efforts, officials said the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to investigators, the victim had injuries consistent with what appeared to be gunshot wounds. No identifying information has been released, and officials said notification of next of kin is still pending.
A significant portion of US-97 is currently closed due to the investigation, and the Washington State Department of Transportation has set up a detour route around the scene. Authorities said the closure is expected to continue for several hours, affecting travel through Douglas County and the greater Wenatchee-area corridor.
The Sheriff’s Office confirmed the case is being investigated as a homicide. Anyone with information is urged to contact RiverCom Dispatch at (509) 663-9911.
Residents traveling between Wenatchee, Chelan, and nearby communities may experience delays throughout the afternoon and evening as crews continue processing the scene.
Authorities said additional updates will be released as more information becomes available
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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