EUGENE, Ore. -- A locomotive engineer employed by Class II Portland & Western Railroad was found shot to death beside a locomotive here around 5 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, according to news reports.

Eugene police said they are investigating the death of engineer Ronald Leo Langlois, 44, of Springfield, Ore., as a homicide. Langlois' body reportedly was found by railroad conductor, who was not identified.

It is not clear, from initial reports, whether Langlois had been operating the locomotive adjacent to where his body was found. Police have not indicated how many times Langlois had been shot, or whether there was a suspect.

Portland & Western operates some 520 miles of former BNSF and Southern Pacific (now Union Pacific) track along the Columbia River between Astoria and Portland, and south from Portland to Eugene. It is a Genesee & Western subsidiary with BLET representation.

Langlois, who signed on with Portland & Western as a conductor in 2003, was later promoted to locomotive engineer. He leaves behind a wife and three children, one of whom is a U.S. Navy sailor based in San Diego, according to news reports.