By Brian Schiedel

BROWNSVILLE, Ore. -- Linn County officials have arrested a man they say shot and killed his mother in Brownsville and then fled the scene.

Deputies responded to a call at around 3:00 on Friday afternoon, after a caller reported to 911 that a female, 48-year-old Gerlene Thorne, had been shot by her son and that he had fled the residence with three children.

A deputy responding to the scene spotted a vehicle matching the suspect vehicle description just north of the Brownsville city limits.  After stopping the vehicle, the driver, 31-year-old Josh Shaddon, was detained as a person of interest.  He was later arrested and charged with murder.

The three children were found in the vehicle unharmed and were returned to their mother.