Ray Dolin Shot In Random Drive-By By Charles Lloyd Danielson III While Working On Book Called 'The Kindness Of America'

A West Virginia man, Ray Dolin, says he was shot in a drive-by shooting while in Montana writing a book called The Kindness of America.

Dolin, 39, was shot in the arm as he approached a pickup truck on Saturday. He believed that the driver was offering him a ride, reported the Associated Press. The shooting took place on State Highway 2 about three miles west of Glasgow, near the Bakken oil shale region.

After he was shot, he flagged down another driver, who drove him to Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital.

Police officials were able to track down the pickup truck and arrest the 52-year-old driving the vehicle, Charles Lloyd Danielson III of Washington state, reported Death and Taxes.

He was sitting down to have a little lunch, and this guy drives up, said Valley County Sheriff Glen Meier, according to Billings Gazette. He thought he was going to give him a ride, and, as he approached the vehicle, the guy pulls out his weapon and shoots him. It's as simple as that.

Police said there does not appear any motive for the shooting.

Danielson was reportedly on his way to Williston, N.D. to work on an oil field, but the sheriff released few details.

Meier did say that lawmen reacted quickly after learning about the incident. Danielson was arrested four later by deputies in Roosevelt County, some 100 miles from where the shooting took place.

We're still the wonderful people in Montana we've always been, and we'll get through this, Meier said. Things are going to happen whether there's the Bakken or not.

Meier said he is still investigating the incident and did not if any words were exchanged between Dolin and Danielson.

Danielson has a long rap sheet and was caught fleeing to North Dakota. He is being charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon and DUI, KFBB reported.

During Danielson's appearance in court, Judge Traci Harada set bail at $50,000 on the felony assault charge and $685 for the DUI. Danieson declined to enter a plea, reported the AP.

Melvin Dolin, the victim's father, said his son was working with photography.

I'd rather you eventually get that story from him. He had some ideas about that, he said, the AP reported.

He also told the AP that his son left his home in Julian, W.Va., bound for Washington state. He took a bus to Montana, to hitch a few rides from there.

He was on the way across the country taking pictures, Melvin Dolin said, adding that his son's travel plans had been flexible. He was going to make up his mind as he travelled along. But he didn't get that far.