Man found near hop field had gunshot wound

HARRAH, Wash. -- Investigators have released the name of a man whose body was found this morning, three miles north of here, with an apparent gunshot wound.

Salvador Lopez Lopez, 20, was reported missing to Wapato police Sunday, authorities said.

Ed Campbell, chief criminal deputy for the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office, said detectives aren’t far enough along in their investigation to know if the death was accidental or intentional.

“Until we start moving people around and get more information, it is just too early to make a call,” he said in a telephone interview from the scene.

Campbell said a rifle was recovered at the scene, near an access road between a hop field and pear orchard off North Harrah Road near West Wapato Road.

The man appears to have been dead at least a few days, investigators said.

A farm worker discovered the body about 6:45 a.m. on what appears to be a lightly used access road.