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A man accused of shooting a snorkeler in the head told investigators that he mistook the swimmer for a large, water-dwelling rodent. William Roderick, 60, of Reedsport, OR was arraigned Thursday on assault and other charges. The victim, John Chessman, 44, remained in serious condition at Oregon Health & Science University Hospital in Portland. Roderick told detectives he saw what he believed to be a nutria swimming in the Smith River. He said he grabbed a rifle and shot at the rodent from a deck overlooking the water. After realizing that Chessman was not a nutria, Roderick helped pulled him from the water. Hutson said Chessman was conscious after the shooting.

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