by Theresa Mack : 11/20/08 11:49am - Report Abuse

I can't help but feel distress for this teacher. I'm also feeling sorrow for the deceased. What a tragedy! If only, huh...so many if only's...

by bob parker : 11/20/08 12:39pm - Report Abuse

KEX just reported he was released on 3/4 of a million dollar bail wonder who is right?
and they said he thought he was shooting at an elk guess he needs his eyes checked again.....soon

by NFL FAN : 11/20/08 12:45pm - Report Abuse

So your a hunter..Once you have spotted your prey, isn't it natural after you fire your weapon to go get what you shot? If I spotted a deer, bear, duck etc, shot it, looks like something fell down, I'm going to go find it. I'm sure as hell not going to run from it. But I give the teach props for contacting authorities. Just about every year we hear of these hunting accidents. If I was out in the woods during hunting season, you betcha, I'd have some sort of safety clothing on. No matter the outcome, Mr. Sjoberg teaching career is probably over with all of the media attention this is getting.

by Sage Wisdom : 11/20/08 2:23pm - Report Abuse

It may be he shot at prey and thought he missed (if he saw it ran off). His bullet could have traveled, hit the guy picking grass and Mr. Sjoberg wouldn't have even been aware. Around here (in rural areas) people don't let their dogs out of the house during hunting season, or go in the woods to chop down trees (or go pick grass). It is unfortunate that Mr. Rojas placed himself in harms way, but I don't see Mr. Sjoberg's recklessness from the information given thus far (unless witnesses testify he was hunting with an AK47, shooting like a maniac.) Once aquitted, continuing to work in teaching should not be an issue. Has anyone started a fund for his defense yet? I'd donate.

by bob parker : 11/20/08 3:01pm - Report Abuse

just cause you see movement in the brush or woods doesnt mean shoot then go see what you hit. first thing you do is identify what your shooting at thats just to be safe after you shoot at something you dont just flee like witnesses who saw him leaving said. I know we wont hear the full story until the trial but i can't see him as being innocent at this point just cause of the recklessness

by bob parker : 11/20/08 3:03pm - Report Abuse

the victim could have been one of us, god forbid it could have been Dick Cheney who was shot or errrrr shooting at one of us

by Natalie Lucey : 11/20/08 4:04pm - Report Abuse

Mr. Sjoberg was my teacher last year and was the best math teacher i have ever had. He is such a nice guy and would never purposly hurt anyone. He was also my volleyball coach this year and was a blast he is a kind man and this accident ruined everything for him

by Jael Thompson : 11/20/08 5:02pm - Report Abuse

One thing we do know for sure is that we don't have all the information. Did the commercial company Mr. Rojas was working for provide their workers with orange vest for their safety while they were working? Common sense dictates that you wear orange regardless of the reason your in the bush during hunting season. For those of you who have chosen to bash the kids (who have left comments) for their "conventions" mistakes, go back and check your own work.

by Paul Edgar : 11/20/08 5:06pm - Report Abuse

This was a accident and every year across America this happens. There is nothing from what is reported that tells us that he knew what had happened. If he had known he would not have talked to others as if nothing had happened. That tells me that he is not lying otherwise he would have been scared to death. Now how this happens for all of you who are not hunters, is tosay at a distance he saw Bear Grass sticks in the air, in his view. There probably was a bunch in man's hands. I was trained by my father and would have never put myself in a position to have had this happen. Ask yourself if everyoen driving car is responsible and has all of the correct training, to be on the road. Accidents happen with cars and guns and unless someone can determine that he knew that this happened and he just walked away, otherwise we should back away from teh blame game.

by Jack Eastes : 11/20/08 8:26pm - Report Abuse

I applaud Mr. Sjoberg's action of coming forward after this hunting accident. Personally, I know Mr. Sjoberg and can attest to the fact that he is a fine gentleman with a true passion for teaching and influencing the lives young adolescents. He is a man of character and integrity, and it is tragic that such misfortune has come upon him.

by george lincoln : 11/21/08 6:24am - Report Abuse

still...no thoughts and prayers brigde. THE THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS MOVEMENT IS DYING

by Joe Hunter : 11/21/08 7:26am - Report Abuse

I wouldn't recommend hunting with Coleah if that is their view of how hunting works. Or maybe Coleah has never injured an animal with a shot and heard it scream as it ran off. I have, they sound like a human screaming. And by the way, shooting a human isn't like on TV. Generally they don't die immediately. It would seem reasonalbe that the victim here (shot in the shoulder) likely was screaming in pain or at least was laying in the bushes still alive. Every time I have shot an animal and "wounded" it, I track it. They even sell gear for "blood" tracking and write books and articles on how to do it. I think the prosecutor is going easy on Sjoberg because this sounds like Sjoberg may have suddenly realized he didn't shoot an animal got out of town. His responsibility would be to check on whatever he shot.

And for Jael - these guys picking brush generally work for themselves. Its their own responsiblity to wear protective orange. I don't blame the victim here, but it sure would have helped the situation if he had been wearing orange. Probably no employer to sue here.

Sjoberg sounded like a great teacher, but we are all responsible for our actions and his great teaching history doesn't justify a "get out of jail free card." He needs to pay for his poor decision-making that took a precious life. I'm sure he feels horrible for what he did, but that's not enough for taking someone's life.

Lincoln, I'm glad to offer thoughts and prayers to all involved here. I'm sure there are a lot of hurting people in this situation.

by Kathy Thayer : 11/21/08 9:02am - Report Abuse

Mr. Rojas was shot in the shoulder. There is a good chance that had he received help he would have lived. Instead he was left alone in the grass to bleed to death. Mr. Rojas has parents, friends, probably siblings. wife and children. I am they are all hurting and feeling horrible because of the way Mr. Rojas was just left to die. It seems that because Sjoberg is a local and a teacher that he is getting a lot of sympathy. We don't know everything but it seems to me that when a man is out hunting he stays out as long as possible trying to get his elk. He doesn't just take a shot at something and then get in his vehicle and leave. But we will never know the truth because the only person alive to tell the story is Sjoberg.

by C Wolfe : 11/21/08 11:31am - Report Abuse

Mr. Sjoberg was my sons math teacher and a very honest and respected one! We think the world of him. This was a tragic accident. He did come forth after he heard. It leads me to believe he had no idea he had shot a person. Not all animals drop and die where they were shot...it is possible that the man didn't lie down but tried to get help on foot (his friends) but maybe fell down a hill or something making himself not clearly visible. Maybe Mr. Sjoberg did try to find what he shot and could not. I hunt and know that if I didn't find what I shot farily soon, I would assume I had missed my shot and gone on. Most people hunt deer and elk in the morning or evening hours. He was probably tired, gave up and went home. I think a lot of people assume he did wrong. He may have been wrong not knowing for sure of his target, but Cortez takes the blame for being out there not wearing the colors he should have. I'm sure Mr. Sjoberg will feel terrible for the rest of his life if he is the one that is responsible but wait to see what happens. I hope that the police got the witness info....who's to say they didn't fire off a round and place blame on an innocent hunter in the area?
If there is anyone that has started a defense fund for Mr. Sjoberg, please let us all know!

by Jan B : 11/21/08 1:39pm - Report Abuse

It is a tragedy that this accident happened. Truly, none of us know what happened and who saw what, but it appears Mr. Rojas was working for an employer since he was working with co-workers given the quote in the Columbian when the story first appeared: "Cortez, who had been commercially picking bear grass in the Skookum Meadows area of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, was killed by a single shot to his torso, according to reports. Two of his co-workers discovered his body and notified the authorities." You would think if you are picking grass in an area where hunting is allowed you would make sure you are wearing safety clothing that makes you visible to a hunter and sets-you apart. If Mr. Sjoberg knew he hit a human and left him, then he should pay a penalty. From what I've read the victim didn't have a bright colored vest on, and if he didn't and Mr. Sjoberg didn't know he hit him, he should not be held criminally negligent. I'd think the victim was the negligent one in this case. Granted the loss is tragic, but shouldn't the victim be held to some level of accountability as well? Sometimes the poor judgement of humans has a high price. Time will tell as more information is released if Mr. Sjoberg truly acted negligently or not.

by Frank Hall : 11/21/08 1:39pm - Report Abuse

Sure is a lot of assuming and speculation going on, some of you have this guy gulity without facts. His time as a teacher says a lot about him, turning himself in says something about him. I shot a Buck a month ago from 300 yards out. I thought I missed, the only reason we knew it was a hit was because my partner acted as my spotter.
You know it was an accident so cut him some slack and wait for the truth to come out.

by Bridget Hall : 11/21/08 3:34pm - Report Abuse

The CRAIG A. Sjoberg Defense Fund has been set up and anyone can make a donation at any US BANK starting at about 5pm today!

by Sage Wisdom : 11/21/08 4:13pm - Report Abuse

Thank you, Bridget! Please contact the television and all newspapers so the word can get out. I live 1,700 miles away or I'd assist more. I'm sending emails to all my friends in that area so they'll know about the defense fund.

by Fly Boy : 11/21/08 4:19pm - Report Abuse

Craig made a pivotal contribution to my son's life. I want this good man defended, and fairness to prevail in his outcome. I just left USBANK and made a contribution to the CRAIG A. SJOBERG DEFENSE FUND.
Any one who would like to help Craig and is feeling like they are helpless now has a way. Go into ANY USBANK Branch, mention Craig's defense fund, write a check. Good luck Craig. You deserve it.

by milton wambach : 11/21/08 8:39pm - Report Abuse

did craig know the victum if it was an accident i think craig should go free, what was that guy doing out there in hunting season with out protective clothing on , accidents happen . i dont know how craig could of mistaken a human for an elk , and him being a teacher , so it had to be an unfortate accident plain an simple , lawyers of coure want to bleed the case for all its worth, bunch of low lifes.

by Roger Wilco : 11/21/08 9:18pm - Report Abuse

Sorry, but no sympathy. It's basic "hunting safety 101" to be sure of the target and unless you can see it clearly and count the points on the antlers, you do not pull the trigger. He fired at a sound, or movement, and that is wrong. In example, my closest call was on a bear hunt I saw a "bear" rooting at a dead log, but using the scope to be sure of the target it turned out to actually be an idiot camper wearing a (yes this is true) black fur coat while scrabbling at tinder to make a fire! During bear season. You just don't fire unless 101% sure.

by Joe Hunter : 11/21/08 10:51pm - Report Abuse

Kudos Roger. These bleeding hearts who think just because someone is a great teacher and feels sorry for the rest of his life hes off the hook are driving me crazy. Basic hunting requires personal responsibility. Oh yeah thats right, todays society doesn't know what personal responsibilty is. Failing to wear an orange vest while in the woods is not cause for death without consequences. Accidents don't mean no penalty. Drunks don't plan to get into accidents, but when they do society requires justice. Lets start a prosecutors fund for personal responsibility. oh yeah, clark county is going to cut that department so more schmucks can ruin our community.

by Ned Ryerson : 11/22/08 3:39pm - Report Abuse

Theres alot of info missing in the story so far. Seems odd that a hunter whould shoot at something and not follow up on what happened. Seems like the guy shot shouldn't have been out there alone and we never heard if he had any safety equiptment on. Theres a lot of info left out. He may be a great teacher but it appears he's also a killer.