Eureka Police Department press release: 

On 09/08/2015, at about 8:08 PM, Eureka Police Department officers were dispatched to the parking lot of the Courthouse Market (905 Fourth Street) after a male caller reported he was just involved in a physical altercation with another male. The caller told dispatchers the victim, a 63-year-old Eureka resident, was lying on the ground unresponsive.  A second caller also reported the victim had sustained a bleeding head wound.

Upon officers’ arrival, they found the victim lying on the ground, unconscious and bleeding from the head and face.  The victim was transported by ambulance to a local hospital in critical condition. Officers contacted the original caller at the scene along with a 16-year-old juvenile companion who may have also been involved in the incident.  Additionally, an independent witness was located and interviewed.  

The caller was subsequently arrested on an unrelated charge of public intoxication and transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility. The juvenile was interviewed and released to a parent.  

At approximately 12:45 AM, hospital staff advised EPD that the victim had succumbed to his injuries and died.

This incident is under active investigation as a possible homicide pending an autopsy to determine the nature and cause of death.  The victim’s name is not being released by EPD at this time to allow time for notification of his next of kin.

Anyone with information relating to this case is asked to contact the Eureka Police Department at 707-441-4060.

[LoCO Note: The North Coast Journal has identified the decedent as Terry Lee Thomas, a “well-known local homeless man.”]