Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On Feb. 19, 2020, at about 6:20 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a residence on the 2500 block of Donna Drive, in the county’s jurisdiction of Eureka, for the report of a domestic disturbance. 

Deputies learned that the 28-year-old male victim and the suspect, 30-year-old Steven Nicholas Upton, had become involved in an argument inside the residence. During the altercation, Upton reportedly hit the victim with a kitchen pot, then drew a firearm and fired a shot towards the victim. 

According to the victim, Upton had also fired a shot at the victim two days earlier. The victim did not report that incident to law enforcement at the time.

The victim did not sustain injuries from either incident.

Upon further investigation, deputies were able to contact Upton, who agreed to meet with deputies at a location on the bottom of Humboldt Hill. Upton was taken into custody without incident.

Upton was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of assault with a semiautomatic rifle (PC 245(b)), discharge of a firearm in gross negligence (PC 246.3(a)), and criminal threats (PC 422). 

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