Montana News

Investigation continues into murder of TV host in Whitefish

Posted: Mar 8, 2013 8:43 PM by Dax Van Fossen - MTN News

WHITEFISH - A quiet neighborhood in Whitefish was the scene of a horrific tragedy at around 10:30 p.m. on Thursday when Gregory Rodriguez shot dead and a woman was badly beaten.

The suspected gunman, Wayne Bengston, then drove to his home in West Glacier, where he reportedly shot himself dead.

"About 10:30 I heard what I thought was a gunshot, I was laying in bed, and I wasn't completely sure that's what it was, sometimes we hear guns from across the road," neighbor Kaley Martinson told us.

Whitefish police say four shots were fired on River Lakes Parkway, claiming the life of Rodriguez, 43, a national sporting TV host and writer for Guns & Ammo magazine.

Whitefish Police Chief Bill Dial says when police arrived at the scene Rodriguez was already dead.

Dial said, "I was met at the scene by a female, who came out of the house and said that a male friend of hers had been killed, and that he was in the house. She also said that her husband was the shooter, and had left the scene with their two-year-old child."

The child was later found safe at a relative's home.

Whitefish police say Bengston's motive is not yet known, as they don't believe Rodriguez was romantically involved with Bengston's wife.

Dial said, "[Bengston] came into the house, immediately shot Mr. Rodriguez, and killed him almost instantly, it appears that he pistol-whipped his wife, and caused her some substantial injuries."

Bengston's wife suffered a concussion, and was taken to a hospital and released a short time later.

She told police that Rodriguez was in town for business, and that's what their meeting at her mother's house was about.

She also told police that she and her husband were not estranged, nor did they have any serious disagreements.

The Whitefish Police Department is still investigating the apparent murder-suicide.

Rodriguez was the host of "A Rifleman's Journal, and the the founder and CEO of Global Adventure Outfitters.

A woman contacted at the company on Friday had "no comment" to clarify what Rodriguez had been working on here in Montana.

A Rifleman's Journal aired nationwide on the Sportsman's Channel. In the show, Rodriguez traveled all over the world on hunts for exotic game, in addition to hunting trips in the West and around North America. The program was 2012 winner 2012 Sportsman's Choice Award for Best Educational/Instructional Show.

In addition to his television work, Rodriguez was Shooting Editor at Shooting Times magazine, a contributing editor to Peterson's Hunting, Dangerous Game and one of the leading publications in the firearms field, Guns & Ammo Magazine.