MILL CITY, Ore. -- A Bend man is in custody following a fatal shooting that left a Bend woman dead early Wednesday morning at a 7-Eleven convenience store in Mill City, according to Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan

Deputies were called to the store at about 4:14 a.m. after receiving a report of a woman who had sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Upon arrival, a deputy found Rian Eugene Bernhardt, 51, of Bend, acting erratically near a black 2010 Chevy Edge, the sheriff’s office said.

Inside the vehicle, deputies discovered 41-year-old Kristie Ann Miltimore, also of Bend, who did not have a pulse. Despite immediate lifesaving efforts by the deputy and subsequent care from paramedics, Miltimore was pronounced dead at the scene.

Detectives from the Linn County and Marion County sheriff’s offices responded to assist with the investigation. Authorities determined that the shooting occurred at an unknown location in the Mill City area prior to the pair arriving at the convenience store.

Following an interview at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Bernhardt was arrested and booked into the Marion County Jail on a charge of possession of weapons by certain felons. Investigators are now working to piece together the events leading up to the tragedy.

Bernhardt was charged with two Class C felony counts of felon in possession of a firearm. A charging document filed Thursday in Marion County Circuit Court noted that he was convicted in March 2020 in Washington County of felony fourth-degree assault constituing domestic violence.

At Thursday's arraignment, a judge set $75,000 bail for Bernhardt, who remained in jail Thursday night pending a continued arraignment hearing Friday afternoon.

Detectives are asking anyone who may have seen the Chevy Edge or had contact with Bernhardt or Miltimore before the shooting to come forward. Those with information are encouraged to contact Detective Scott Tennant at the Linn County Sheriff’s Office at (541) 967-3950.

Editor's note: AI assisted in rewriting this content, but a human — Barney Lerten — reviewed and tweaked it before publishing.