Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office press release:

On 01-31-2015 at about 8:30 a.m. the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office received a report regarding a vehicle, which had been shot at on Highway 299, traveling eastbound near Berry Summit. A Sheriff Deputy then contacted the driver of the vehicle.

The victim said at about 6:00 a.m. this morning he was following a silver, 4-door, BMW sedan for several miles eastbound on Highway 299 near Lord Ellis. The victim said he decided to pass the BMW. The victim said that once he passed the BMW that vehicle started to tailgate his vehicle. The victim stated he was traveling eastbound on Highway 299 at Berry Summit when the BMW started to pass his vehicle. The victim stated as the BMW passed his vehicle he heard what he thought were several loud percussions he believed were gunshots.

The victim stated after the gunshot sounds he felt a sting on his right ribcage and he believed that he had just been shot by a bullet. The victim stated the BMW then sped off eastbound on highway 299 and he lost sight of the vehicle. The victim said he then pulled his vehicle off the roadway to check his vehicle and his possible injury. When the victim looked at his ribcage on the right side, he saw a red circular welt on his skin, but his skin was not broken. The victim stated the Carhart jacket he was wearing had no tear in the jacket. The victim said he did not immediately call for help, because his cellular telephone had little or no reception.

When the deputy looked at the victim’s vehicle he saw what appeared to be two bullet holes in the right rear taillight and one bullet hole on the passenger side door and a bullet hole on the front of the vehicle, which penetrated the radiator. The deputy looked at the victim’s injury and he saw a red circular welt mark on the victim’s right ribcage that did not penetrate the skin. The victim did not need medical attention for his injury.

The victim told the deputy he did not recognized the driver of the BMW and has no reason why the suspect would had wanted to shoot at his vehicle. The victim was driving a white Dodge pickup truck.

Anyone with information for the Sheriff’s Office regarding this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Office at 707-445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at 707-268-2539.