Worland man is alleged shooter of Mont. couple

WORLAND - A Worland man has allegedly confessed to federal investigators that he was the shooter that left two dead and another injured.

Jesus Deniz, 18, of Worland, was identified as the suspect Wednesday. Deniz attended Worland High School, dropping out his sophomore year.

Worland High School Principal Kevin Smith called the event a tragedy and emphasized that Deniz is only alleged to have committed the crime.

"This is certainly a tragedy not only for the members of the Pryor community but also the Worland community as well because it happens to be one of our citizens in our community. It hurts, without a doubt. Our thoughts and our prayers go out to the family and Pryor.

"We certainly hold them in our thoughts and prayers," Smith said.

Smith said Deniz, who was raised by his grandparents, dropped out of Worland High School after his sophomore year.

"He was a troubled young man.

"It's not easy on (his) family. We are thinking and praying for them as well. It has not been an easy time," Smith said.

The Associated Press reported Tana Shane, 47, drove by a young man who appeared to be stranded Wednesday morning, Ada Shane, sister of victim Jason Shane, said, relaying the story as told to her by her niece. The man said he had run out of fuel, and Tana Shane gave him a ride to a nearby gas station, but it was closed.

"He's only 18, and he looked like an innocent boy," Ada Shane said. "Both my brother and sister-in-law have big hearts."

Tana Shane went by her house in the small town of Pryor on the reservation, picked up her husband and daughter and all four began driving back toward the stranded car, Ada Shane said. They didn't get far before the man allegedly pulled a gun and held it to 51-year-old Jason Shane's temple.

He ordered the father to stop the car and told everybody to get out, Ada Shane said. He told the family to give him their money, but the family said they had only change because they recently returned from a religious revival in Window Rock, Arizona.

Tana Shane told her daughter in their Native American language to run. Jorah Shane told her aunt that she heard a shot, started running, then heard bullets whizzing by her head. She fell, heard another shot, and started running again toward a church just as a car was pulling out.

She ran to the car, and the frightened driver leaped out, Ada Shane said. Jorah Shane jumped in the driver's seat and drove to her house with the shooter still firing at her, the aunt said.

Jorah Shane was later hospitalized. A bullet had grazed her head and she had a gunshot wound to the back. She didn't know as of Thursday that her parents had been killed in the shooting.

The AP reports that Jora Shane is recovering from surgery.

According to the AP, Special Agent Larry McGrail II's statement filed Thursday says Jesus Deniz opened fire because one of the victims laughed at him.

McGrail's statement was filed with a criminal complaint in U.S. District Court seeking a murder warrant for the 18-year-old Deniz, also known as Jesus Deniz Mendoza.

Deniz is being held in Wyoming after police arrested him near Meeteetse, about 120 miles away from the town of Pryor, where the shooting happened.

According to Washakie County Circuit Court documents, Deniz was arrested earlier this month for burglary. His bond was originally set at $10,000 cash on July 6. However, on July 16, his bond was modified to a $10,000 signature bond. He was subsequently released from the Washakie County Jail.

Sheriff Steve Rakness said Deniz had been abiding by his bond conditions of checking in twice daily up until yesterday.