At Wednesday’s press conference | Photo: Andrew Goff

UPDATE, 3:40 p.m.: Notes handed out to media pertaining to Sunday afternoon’s shootout, including a timeline of events constructed from dispatch and CAD logs, have been added to the end of this post. Full audio of the press conference below. —AG:

(AUDIO) EPD Press Release

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Killian O’Quinn. Facebook profile photo.

The pistol O’Quinn used to attack the CHP officer. Photo: EPD.

Original Post: At a press conference held in Eureka Police headquarters this afternoon, Eureka Police Chief Andy Mills identified the person killed in Sunday afternoon’s shootout with a CHP officer at the intersection of Fourth and Q streets in Eureka.

The deceased, Killian O’Quinn, 20, of Eureka, is believed to have suddenly opened fire on the CHP officer following a routine traffic stop near the intersection. After he was shot in the leg, the officer was able to draw his own gun and return fire, killing his attacker. He then held four other people in the car at gunpoint until backup arrived.

“Steven Curtis, a CHP officer of 13 years, is a hero,” said Mills, naming the wounded officer.

Mills told reporters that upon exiting his vehicle at the officer’s command, O’Quinn said, “I’m about to have a very bad day.” He then drew his weapon and began firing.

Investigators — led by Detective Terry Liles of the Eureka Police Department, do not yet know why O’Quinn shot at the officer. The four other passengers of the vehicle — some local, some not local — knew that O’Quinn was armed, Mills said. All were detained, questioned and released. 

“We don’t know where the gun came from yet, but here was a 20-year-old with a gun he couldn’t buy,” Mills said. “We in our country have to get serious about gun violence.”

This afternoon’s press conference was also attended by Sheriff Mike Downey and Undersheriff Billy Honsal. Sheriff’s Office personnel form part of the county’s Critical Incident Response Team, which investigates all officer-involved shootings.

The press conference is still underway. We will update this post shortly.

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-Notes Distributed to Media at Today’s Press Conference-

Date/Time of Incident:  Sunday, November 1, 2015 / Approximately 4:19 PM

Type: OIS. EPD Case #15-008268, Coroner Case #201505241, DOJ #EU-15-001606

Suspect’s Name:  Killian Shane O’Quinn – deceased

Description: White male, age 20, 5’8”, 155 lbs., blonde hair, blue eyes

Criminal History:  

  • No local (Humboldt County) adult criminal history record
  • No California adult criminal history
  • Arrested by Patton Township Police Department (Pennsylvania) on 4/20/15 for DUI alcohol or controlled substances.  

Weapon Used: .45 caliber, semi-automatic Springfield Armory pistol

Victim Officer:  Officer Steve Curtis

  • 14 year CHP veteran
  • 3 years serving in the Humboldt area
  • Single gunshot wound to the upper right thigh. He is recovering and doing well.  There does not appear to be any obstacles to his full recovery.  

Background Summary: On Sunday, November 1, 2015, at about 4:15 PM, a CHP officer attempted a traffic enforcement stop for reckless driving on an older model green two-door Chevrolet sedan as the vehicle entered the City southbound over the Samoa Bridge (Highway 255).  (A passing motorist had just stopped and told the officer the green sedan was making cars swerve and passing on bridges unsafely over double yellow lines.  This was near Highway 255 and New Navy Base Road, Samoa.)  5 occupants in the vehicle.  

The green sedan made a right turn from Highway 255/R Street onto westbound 4th Street where the officer initiated a traffic stop.  It then made a right turn onto Q Street and stopped along the east curb (300 block) of Q St.  The officer left his patrol unit and walked to the driver’s door where he contacted the suspect/driver, Killian Shane O’Quinn.  After some routine questioning related to the reason for the stop and his I.D. etc., the officer directs O’Quinn to step out of his vehicle.  O’Quinn hesitates and has to be told by the officer 2-3 more times before he complies. The officer then attempts to escort O’Quinn to the rear of his car.  O’Quinn hesitates next to his door and as the officer reaches for him, O’Quinn produces a handgun from his front waistband area.  A struggle ensues over the gun as O’Quinn apparently attempts to cycle the slide and chamber a round.  O’Quinn shoots the officer as the officer fires back in defense of his life. Multiple shots are exchanged.  O’Quinn is fatally wounded and the officer sustains a non-life threatening gunshot wound to his upper thigh.  The bullet was later removed from the officer’s leg and he was released from the hospital that night.

Timeline of Events (approximate from Dispatch/CAD logs):

  • 1615: CHP Officer initiates traffic stop on suspect’s vehicle near 4th/R
  • 1619: Officer radios first “1199”
  • 1619.46: Female caller (from 300 block of Q St.) phones EPD and reports she heard 2 shots & someone yell drop the gun
  • 1620: EPD Dispatch receives call from CHP that an officer has been shot
  • 1621: Officer radios: “I’ve been shot. 1199. I’ve got 1 suspect down. I’ve been shot – Q Street and 4th.”  
  • 1621: Another RP states unknown if the officer was shot but one subject is down on the ground
  • 1623: Additional RP states they can see the officer pointing a gun at a green 2-door sedan
  • 1623.10: First EPD officer (Corrie Watson) arrives on scene
  • 1623.40: Second EPD officer(s) arrives on scene (Officer Nunez & FTO Hill)
  • 1623.43: Officer Watson confirms a male suspect with a gun is down and there are possibly 4 occupants in the vehicle still  
  • 1624.25: Officer Watson radios they have the subjects at gunpoint and requests a unit stop traffic at 3rd/Q Street
  • 1625.28: Sergeant Stan Harkness requests an ambulance stage behind Marcelli’s Pizzaria (1604 4th – 4th/Q) where EPD will extract the wounded officer to
  • 1625.38: Humboldt Bay Fire unit stages near scene at Q/Myrtle
  • 1626.39: Sergeant Harkness advises they are holding 4 subjects in the vehicle (at gunpoint) and one suspect is down  
  • 1627.18: Sergeant Harkness (incident/scene commander) requests traffic control at 4th/R and 5th/Q
  • 1629: HBFD requests a second ambulance and a paramedic engine respond to the scene
  • 1636: HBFD reports EPD has secured the scene and they’ve made patient (Officer Curtis) contact. He is transported to the hospital by ambulance shortly thereafter (The time en route is not recorded in the Event Report)
  • 1639: Second ambulance arrives on scene
  • 1643: Second ambulance is reported to be en route to the hospital Code 3 (with the suspect)
  • 1643: Sergeant Harkness advises units are Code 4 with four detained
  • 1703: Command Post is established on 4th St. east of Q St.  

*A sergeant and six EPD officers responded to the scene initially along with officers from multiple other agencies.  

PREVIOUSLY

Reader-submitted photo from the scene of Sunday’s incident.