UPDATE 4:35 Captain Steve Watson of the Eureka Police Department has confirmed that the shooting involved an Indian Island resident and a person who arrived there by kayak. The homeowner reportedly approached the kayaker on a neighboring residence and informed him that he was on private property. The kayaker responded by moving toward the homeowner while raising a machete in a threatening fashion. The homeowner then reportedly drew a pistol and fired one to two bullets into the trespasser’s abdomen. Two nearby fisherman responded to the scene and assisted the resident in applying first aid. No arrests have been made and names have not yet been released. The investigation is ongoing and information is subject to change.
###
UPDATE, 1:37 p.m.: Humboldt Bay Fire’s Chris Jelinek talked to the Outpost about the current status of the victim, and about the difficulties of getting rescue personnel to the scene:
###
UPDATE, 1:25 p.m. The victim, audibly moaning, was taken off a boat and loaded into the ambulance moments ago, and from there to St. Joseph Hospital. The Outpost’s John Ross Ferrara will get a statement from the Eureka Police Department shortly.
###
###
UPDATE, 12:54 p.m.: The victim has been located.
###
UPDATE, 12:50 p.m.: A private boat has arrived to ferry rescue personnel across.
###
About 15 minutes ago, Eureka-area rescue personnel were notified that a man had been shot twice in the abdomen at a residence on Indian Island.
The Eureka Police Department and Humboldt Bay Fire personnel are currently staged on Woodley Island attempting to locate a boat or helicopter to get them across.
An Outpost reporter is headed to the scene. We will be updating this post as we get information.