FBI Enters Toppenish Murder Investigation

The discovery of a man fatally shot in the chest has now become an FBI investigation.

Yakima County officials say 23-year-old Wayne Owens was found around 3:15am at a home in the 200 block of Elm Street in Toppenish early Wednesday morning.

He had been shot in the chest, efforts to revive and save him failed, he was pronounced dead, having bled to death from the wound.

Because he is a Yakima Tribal Member and Native American, the FBI has entered the investigation. That is standard procedure when significant crimes occur on tribal reservation lands, or to recognized tribal members-Native Americans.

Officials say there were signs of "violence" at the scene where he was found, according to KNDU-TV.  But exactly what was found was not divulged by police.