Oregon man shoots wife after hiding in her car

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A woman is struggling for life at Portland's Legacy Emanuel Hospital after her husband shot her in the back, authorities said Wednesday.

They say the southwest Oregon man hid in the back seat of his estranged wife's car while she met with a divorce attorney, and shot her when she settled back into the car.

The woman, 22-year-old Ashley Kendall, was transferred from a southwest Oregon hospital to Portland's Legacy Emanuel Hospital. Frasier described Kendall's condition as "extremely" critical, saying the bullet entered her upper back and exited her chest. Hospital spokeswoman Amber Shoebridge declined comment.

Her estranged husband, 26-year-old Travis Kendall of Myrtle Point, has killed himself after a confrontation with Coquille Police Chief Mark Dannels, said Coos County District Attorney R. Paul Frasier.

The shooting is the latest in a string of murder-suicide attempts in Oregon this month. Three have occurred in the Portland area, including one in which a man burst into his estranged wife's workplace and opened fire, killing his wife and himself while wounding two others.

Ashley Kendall's shooting was reported by her sister, who told police she was on the phone with her when she heard screams that "he" was in the car. The call ended abruptly.

Investigators believe Travis Kendall drove to the attorney's office in Coos Bay and hid in his wife's car while she was in the office, only presenting himself when she started to drive. The wounded woman's body was found on a street.

The shooting ignited an immediate search for Kendall and the missing vehicle. Officer Dannels spotted the car late Tuesday and gave chase until it reached Kendall's home. Dannels said he fired shots during the ensuing confrontation, with one bullet hitting Kendall in the leg. Kendall, according to Frasier, then ducked around the corner of the house and shot himself in the head. An autopsy will be performed.

Records show Travis Kendall was jailed on a domestic abuse charge in October. He was ordered not to have contact with Ashley following his conditional release. The Department of Human Services took custody of their one child last month because of the home situation.