12:10 PM MDT on Thursday, April 6, 2006

BAKER CITY, Ore. -- A Baker City postal employee is facing murder charges in the fatal shooting of his supervisor.

Baker City Herald

Grant Gallaher is accused of killing his supervisor Lori Hayes-Kotter outside the Baker City post office Tuesday.

Forty-one-year-old Grant Gallaher is accused of gunning down 49-year-old Lori Leigh Hayes-Kotter Tuesday afternoon, according to District Attorney Matt Shirtcliff.

Police investigators say the victim was not the intended target.

Shirtcliff says it was Postmaster Michael McGuire who was the intended target.

Investigators are not talking about a motive yet, but say supervisor Lori Hayes-Kotter became the ultimate victim.

This after Gallaher, a letter carrier, drove his postal vehicle into this parking lot behind the post office.

The DA says Gallaher intentionally struck Hayes-Kotter with his vehicle.  He then went into the post office looking for McGuire armed with a handgun.

“He was unable to find Mr. McGuire and he then exited the building and approached Ms. Hayes-Kotter again in the parking lot at the federal building.  He then shot her several times at close range,” said Shirtcliff.

Postal workers in Baker City returned to work Wednesday but would not talk publicly about the incident. 

NewsChannel 7 did speak to one woman who knew the victim.

“The woman who had been killed was a very nice woman.  Friendly, very helpful and I don’t think she deserved that at all,” said Mara Hanson.

Hayes-Kotter lived in North Powder, about 19 miles north of Baker City.

A friend called her "a terrific mom, a very loving wife, and a tremendous friend."

Gallaher’s father said his son is not an aggressive person and his actions don’t make sense.

Meanwhile, Gallaher will remain in jail without bond.  He is scheduled to be arraigned on murder and attempted murder charges later this week.