The host of the outdoor show “A Rifleman’s Journal,” Gregory Rodriguez, was shot and killed in Montana on Thursday, March 7th. In a bizarre night of events, Rodriguez was shot by the husband of a female friend he was visiting in Whitefish, Montana.
Police said that Rodriguez, 43, was shot by Wayne Bengston who police said was in an apparent jealous rage. Bengston’s wife stated that she had met Rodriguez at an outdoor industry convention and that he was just visiting her as a friend in the home of her mother. She also said that Rodriguez was in town on business, and while the two were sitting at the kitchen table, Bengston showed up at around 10:30pm, barged in the house and shot Rodriguez.
Bengston’s wife, who was not named, said that Bengston then beat her on the head and face with his handgun. She was later treated and released at a local hospital.
After the shooting, police said that Bengston took the couple’s two year old son and dropped him off at an unnamed relative’s home. Bengston then drove to his West Glacier home where he shot and killed himself in his truck.
“It’s pretty much an open-and-closed case. Homicide and suicide,” Whitefish police chief Bill Dial said.
Police did not believe that Bengston’s wife and Rodriguez were in a romantic relationship according to the Associated Press.
The Missoulian reported that Bengston used a .44 caliber handgun and that he shot Rodriguez multiple times.
The Billings Gazette reported that Rodriguez, of Sugar Land, Texas was married with two kids. Chief Dial went on to say, “The victim was here on business and stopped to talk to a friend for the evening and have a glass of wine.” Dial also added, “Mr. Bengston came into the home and shot him immediately. We think that it was just a professional relationship, but perhaps the husband thought it was more than that. But that is just conjecture.”
Besides hosting a TV show, Rodriguez was the founder and CEO of Global Adventure Outfitters. He was also an editor at Shooting Times magazine and he was also a contributing editor at Peterson’s Hunting, Guns & Ammo and Dangerous Game. Rodriguez was a mortgage banker before he created GAO.
“A Rifleman’s Journal” followed Rodriguez as he hunted and traveled to exotic locations.
Bengston worked for the U.S. Forest Service.