CLEVELAND, February 8 — Police in Eugene, Ore., are investigating the murder of a BLET member who was found shot to death outside of his locomotive.
Police are reporting that a co-worker found Ron Langlois dead of a gunshot wound at West 2nd and Cleveland Street just before 5 a.m. on February 6. Brother Langlois, 44, was a Portland & Western locomotive engineer and a member of BLET Division 416 in Salem, Ore.
“My heart goes out to the Langlois family,” BLET National President Paul Sorrow said. “This is an unimaginable tragedy and shock. I ask all BLET members to join me in extending deepest sympathies to the Langlois family.”
He is survived by his wife, Alicia Langlois, and three children — a 19-year-old Navy sailor, a 16-year-old varsity cheerleader, and a 9-year-old third grader.
Langlois became a railroad conductor in 2003, his wife said. He earned promotion to Locomotive Engineer in 2005.
“They couldn’t have possibly asked for a more hard-working employee, a more dedicated man. He certainly was really significant, really important to us,” Alicia Langlois said. “We’re trying to figure out how we’re going to survive without him.”
Langlois loved working for the railroad, his wife said.
“I think the big toys for big boys was his favorite of all,” she said.
Brother Langlois has been a member of the BLET Since July 1, 2004.
“I have girls who are not going to have somebody to walk them down the aisle,” Alicia Langlois said. “We’re a sad family, taking it in waves of shock, grief, disbelief, and in this house, a little bit of humor; we’re looking for bright spots, things to smile about.”
A Eugene police spokesperson said they still have no suspects in Langlois’ death. They also havenÆt released information about possible motivations for the crime. Those with any information are asked to call Eugene police at (541) 682-8888.
More details will be made available shortly.
(With reports from television station KVAL and the Register-Guard newspaper.)