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PREVIOUSLY:

• Sheriff’s Office Identifies the Man Who Was Fatally Shot By a Deputy at Bear River Recreation Center
• Sheriff’s Office Releases Name of Law Enforcement Officer in Bear River Shooting
• SHERIFF’S OFFICE: Today’s Shooting at Bear River Was Witnessed by Several and Captured on Body Cam Footage; Investigation Underway
• (UPDATE: SHERIFF PRESS CONFERENCE) Officer-Involved Shooting Near the Bear River Recreation Center
• Sheriff’s Office Releases Security and Body Camera Footage From June’s Fatal Shooting at Bear River Casino

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Press release from the District Attorney’s Office:

District Attorney Stacey Eads has completed her review of the investigation, which includes extensive video surveillance as well as body worn camera footage, regarding the June 5, 2025, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) Officer-involved shooting of 29-year-old Nicholas David Anderson of Simi Valley, California. A Humboldt County Critical Incident Response Team, including members from the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office, Eureka Police Department, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, Arcata Police Department, Fortuna Police Department, Ferndale Police Department, and California Highway Patrol, conducted the investigation. Additionally, the Humboldt County Coroner’s Office and the California Department of Justice- Bureau of Forensic Services, contributed to the investigation.

The following summarizes the facts derived from the investigation, as well as applicable law and legal conclusions of the District Attorney regarding this incident.

Please be advised the following content may be disturbing for readers.

Factual Summary

On the evening of June 4, 2025, 29-year-old Nicholas David Anderson drove to Redwood Memorial Hospital in Fortuna and walked in seeking treatment for a severe wound to his left forearm. Mr. Anderson gave hospital staff the alias “Edward Sherman” and told them “I hurt myself.” His left arm was wrapped with a t-shirt and bleeding. He described cutting his left wrist with a knife in a horizontal and vertical manner; however he soon recanted his initial description of the injury as being self-inflicted — providing very little additional information. After meeting with Mr. Anderson, a treating physician opined Mr. Anderson presented as a danger to himself and placed a 24-hour psychiatric “1799” hold on him. Shortly after midnight, Mr. Anderson was transferred from Redwood Memorial to St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka to provide him with a higher level of medical care.

At St. Joseph Hospital, initial assessments supported Mr. Anderson’s likely need for surgery and psychiatric intervention, however during early morning hours of June 5 he fled from the hospital. Staff followed him a short distance but lost sight of him after he ran into a nearby wooded area. Law enforcement was contacted to assist in locating him; however, Mr. Anderson was not located by authorities.

Mr. Anderson is captured on a doorbell camera video (later reviewed) in Eureka after he rings the doorbell and requests a ride, which he is not given, from the homeowner. A different Eureka homeowner also encounters him after he emerged from a wooded gully area onto her property around 11:00 a.m. After a brief encounter, he disappeared back into the woods. Shortly after noon, a Eureka woman, also unfamiliar with Mr. Anderson, encounters him and he asks for a ride. Shortly after noon, she arranges for a male friend to provide Mr. Anderson a ride to Redwood Memorial Hospital where his car was still parked.

At 2:16 p.m. on June 5 a 911 call was placed by an employee of the Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria reporting a man with an injured arm needed medical attention and was “dripping blood everywhere” in the men’s shower of the Recreation Center in Loleta. Humboldt County Sheriff Corporal Kellen Brown responded to the scene at 2:21 and arrived in his marked Sheriff’s patrol vehicle by 2:27. Cpl. Brown observed Mr. Anderson seated just outside entrance doors to the Recreation Center. He was unclothed with a towel around his waist and blood-soaked bandages wrapped around his left forearm. Cpl. Brown observed towels, a set of keys and a knife next to Anderson while they spoke. During the interaction, Mr. Anderson had a calm demeanor. He was not forthcoming about his age, nor the cause of his injury and provided only a first name of “Tommy”. Mr. Anderson suggested his injury may have been caused during a traffic collision, which prompted Cpl. Brown to request Corporal Bradford Anderson, HCSO, respond to assist and survey the area for a possible traffic collision.

Paramedics arrived at the Recreation Center shortly after Cpl. Brown. Emergency personnel assured Mr. Anderson that he was not in trouble and his name was needed for accuracy of medical records. Nonetheless, Mr. Anderson declined to provide accurate information. Due to the severity of his injury and need for care, the emergency medical professionals strongly recommended he go with them to the hospital for treatment; however, he refused. Within twenty minutes, Mr. Anderson’s wound was rinsed and wrapped with fresh gauze and bandages and the emergency medical team personnel left for their next 911 call. Mr. Anderson’s remaining belongings were gathered by Bear River Rancheria staff from within the Recreation Center and provided to him. He was then directed to leave the property.

Cpl. Brown offered to help Mr. Anderson take his belongings to his car. Mr. Anderson declined, stating “I will put it in my car. You don’t need to supervise me.” Cpl. Brown reiterated for Mr. Anderson his getting medical treatment at a hospital was recommended and he needed to make his way off the Rancheria. After putting on some clothes, Mr. Anderson walked off towards the Bear River Tobacco Traders shop, about 1000 feet northeast of the Recreation Center.

After Cpl. Anderson searched the area, finding no sign of a traffic collision, he joined Cpl. Brown to further assist. Shortly thereafter, with the assistance of Bear River Security they learned of the location of Mr. Anderson’s parked car in the Recreation Center lot. Identification of Mr. Anderson’s vehicle helped officers learn the name of the registered owner, and subsequently his true name. Additionally, it was evident Mr. Anderson was not heading towards his car, so the corporals suspected he was not intending to leave the property as directed. They drove to Mr. Anderson’s location near an EV charging station. They spoke with him and reminded him that Tribal representatives requested he leave the Bear River Rancheria property. Mr. Anderson expressed his understanding and clarified with the officers which direction he needed to go to leave the property. He was told they did not want to take him to jail, that it would not be a good solution. He was told he could walk out or go to his car and drive out. Despite the directions, Mr. Anderson lingered, and further discussion ensued with the corporals repeatedly explaining the request for him to leave and his options. At one point Cpl. Anderson tells Mr. Anderson “Like, we’re legitimately concerned. You have a giant slash in your arm…We just want to make sure you’re okay.” After about ten minutes Mr. Anderson seemed to acquiesce and walked across a field towards the Recreation Center lot towards his parked car.

The corporals continued to monitor the situation from a distance by parking in a paved cul-de-sac off Brenard Road across from the Recreation Center. There are no structures in the cul-de-sac, only grassy terrain. While awaiting Mr. Anderson’s departure, the corporals reached out to the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office and learned only that Mr. Anderson had minimal law enforcement contacts in his county of residence during the last ten years.

After reaching his car, Mr. Anderson drove out of the Recreation Center parking lot and onto Singley Hill Road; however, instead of leaving the property he parked off to the side of Singley Hill Road adjacent to the Bear River Tobacco Traders shop. After another ten minutes, he turned his car around heading back towards the Recreation Center. Before reaching the Recreation Center, Mr. Anderson pulled into the cul-de-sac parking near the marked Sheriff’s patrol vehicles. Both corporals exited their patrol vehicles. As Mr. Anderson got out of his car Cpl. Brown walked around the patrol vehicles stopping several feet away from Mr. Anderson’s vehicle. Cpl. Anderson took a seemingly relaxed composure leaning onto the hood of one of the patrol vehicles.

After Mr. Anderson was out of his car he walked towards the officers and stopped. He looked directly at them. Cpl. Brown asked, “What’s the issue, man?” Mr. Anderson dipped his hands into his front pants pockets and pulled a locking blade knife from his right pocket. Using both hands he opened the blade. Cpl. Brown and Cpl. Anderson simultaneously placed their right hand on their holstered firearm. Moments later they each drew their firearms. Cpl. Brown told Mr. Anderson “Put that down.” Cpl. Brown followed with “Put it down. Now!” During the interaction Mr. Anderson told them he is “Just done.”

Mr. Anderson raised both arms with his elbows relatively level to his shoulders and his hands as high as his head. With the knife clenched in his right hand and the exposed blade pointed in the direction of the officers he quickly walked towards the corporals. Both officers retreated backwards and repeatedly ordered Mr. Anderson to “Get on the ground.” With the knife still raised at head level, Mr. Anderson jogged around a patrol vehicle in pursuit of the officers who with their firearms drawn, walk backwards and at one point run from him to create distance. The corporals split from each other as Cpl. Brown walked back towards the driver’s side of Mr. Anderson’s parked car, and Cpl. Anderson onto a gently sloped grassy area. Mr. Anderson, knife still raised, sprinted directly at Cpl. Anderson. As Mr. Anderson closed in on him, Cpl. Anderson fired three shots. Mr. Anderson fell to the ground.

Less than 25 seconds passed from the moment Mr. Anderson first pursues the corporals with the knife and when he is shot by Cpl. Anderson. It was during the last 3 seconds that Mr. Anderson ran at Cpl. Anderson, with the knife raised. Both Cpl. Brown and Cpl. Anderson feared Mr. Anderson was going to stab Cpl. Anderson.

After Mr. Anderson falls, Cpl. Anderson kicked the knife out of Mr. Anderson’s reach, the corporals placed handcuffs on Mr. Anderson and immediately began lifesaving efforts. Mr. Anderson was transported to Redwood Memorial Hospital; however, he succumbed to his injuries and was declared deceased at 4:09 p.m. on June 5.

Three bullet casings located in a grassy area where Cpl. Anderson fired shots, a bullet projectile located in the front passenger door of an uninjured civilian’s Ford F-350 truck, and Mr. Anderson’s seven-inch folding knife with a three-inch blade, were collected from the scene by Senior Criminalist Dale Cloutier, Department of Justice.

On June 11, Dr. Bennet Omalu, Forensic Pathologist/Neuropathologist, performed an autopsy and determined Mr. Anderson suffered a fatal gunshot wound in the center of his chest. Dr. Omalu found a projectile pierced Mr. Anderson’s heart and right lung, and a corresponding bullet and polymer tip were removed from Mr. Anderson’s body. Another bullet, and projectiles, removed from Mr. Anderson’s left armpit area caused a gunshot wound near Mr. Anderson’s left shoulder. Subsequent forensic toxicology “complete drug screen” of Mr. Anderson’s blood, urine and other bodily fluid/substance samples returned negative.

At the time of the shooting, Cpl. Anderson had over 9 years of law enforcement experience working over 8 years on patrol for the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office and one year as a correctional officer. He wore his distinctly marked Sheriff’s uniform and was armed with his HCSO issued Glock 17.

The Law

Under California law, an officer is justified in using deadly force when they reasonably believe, based on the totality of the circumstances, that such force is necessary to defend against an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury to the officer or another person. Moreover, officers need not retreat or desist from their efforts due to resistance or threatened resistance.  

Pursuant to Penal Code section 196, homicide committed by peace officers is justified when the peace officer’s use of force complies with Penal Code section 835a.  Thus, the most pertinent law in this situation is Penal Code section 835a, which states the following:

[Ed. Note: Find the code at this link.]   

Legal Analysis

On June 5, when Cpl. Anderson discharged his firearm, he justifiably used deadly force because he was confronted by a situation where he reasonably believed the use of deadly force was necessary to defend himself against an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury posed by Mr. Anderson. Based upon earlier interactions and available historical information, it was reasonable for the officers to anticipate a peaceful interaction with Mr. Anderson. However, once Mr. Anderson pulled the knife from his pants pocket, unfolded the 3-inch blade and pursued the officers, the situation rapidly evolved into an entirely different encounter. In response to Mr. Anderson brandishing the knife and chasing them, both officers drew their firearms and attempted to create distance between themselves and Mr. Anderson while giving clear directives for him to put the knife down. He was also directed to get on the ground. Rather than comply with the commands, Mr. Anderson closed in on Cpl. Anderson when he sprinted directly at Cpl. Anderson with his knife raised in the air. Just a few seconds passed during that critical time, and Cpl. Anderson believed if he did not defend himself, he would be stabbed.

During those last seconds before Cpl. Anderson fired shots when Mr. Anderson ran with the knife at Cpl. Anderson above his head, Cpl. Anderson reasonably believed the use of deadly force was necessary to defend against Mr. Anderson, who demonstrated the present ability, opportunity, and apparent intent to immediately cause death or serious bodily injury to him.  Thus, Cpl. Anderson was legally justified in using deadly force to defend himself against the imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury posed by Mr. Anderson.

Conclusion

District Attorney Stacey Eads has concluded the shooting was legally justified, in that the actions of Cpl. Anderson complied with California Penal Code Section 835a.   Mr. Anderson’s family has been notified of her findings and legal determination. 

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Behold! Your first look at conceptual designs for the big, fancy new public health laboratory that the county plans to build on the corner of I and Wood streets, directly across from its beleaguered old Clark Complex.

This morning, at a meeting of Eureka’s Design Review Committee, Humboldt County Construction Projects Manager Jake Johnson delivered an informational presentation on the lab project alongside folks from the SoCal engineering firm HDR, which is designing the facility.

The county’s existing laboratory — one of just 29 public health labs left in the California — is housed in a repurposed, nearly century-old building and aging modular units that, collectively, don’t provide enough space or power to run modern equipment, county staff has said.

In a recent funding request, the Department of Health and Humans Services (DHHCS) argued, “Replacing an outdated building with a modern public health laboratory is essential to protecting the environment and people of Northern California.” 

This morning, Johnson outlined the importance of the public lab, saying it provides testing services and support for local community health providers to help diagnose and control communicable diseases and promote a healthy environment.

“The lab also plays a key role in emergency preparedness by providing testing services, training and support for other area laboratories,” he said.

The price tag for the new lab was previously projected to be $26.4 million, with a target completion date of Halloween 2027. However, DHHS spokesperson Christine Messinger tells the Outpost today that the cost estimate and construction timeline are now being updated. New figures should be available next week, she said. 

This project has been in the works since before the pandemic. In January 2024 the county purchased two contiguous lots on I Street.

Last In March 2021, the county landed a $2,150,000 CDC grant explicitly for this project, but that funding was later rescinded by DOGE. 

Johnson said the new lab will typically be occupied by about 14 staffers, with minimal access by non-employees, primarily for drop off of samples, occasional meetings with outside groups and vendors and deliveries to and from local hospitals.

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HDR’s principal designer on the project, Adeline Morin, came up from Los Angeles along with Project Manager Ken Sumner. They presented a series of slides showing the building plans from multiple angles and discussed various aspects of the design.

Administrative offices will be located on the ground floor with lab facilities mostly upstairs. The building is designed with energy sustainability features, and Morin said photovoltaic panels can be added down the line.

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Morin said her firm chose the blue exterior color and extensive wood elements indoors after examining many reference images of Eureka. 

“We didn’t want anything to stand out,” she said.

On the Wood Street side, which faces a residential area, the design incorporates vegetation and what Morin described as “a natural curve” on the exterior wall. This side also includes the employee vehicle entrance.

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The entry doorway for employees and deliveries will be located on the opposite side:

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This morning’s presentation was something of a formality since the county is exempt from city design standards. The project received a general plan conformance review from the city in 2022. That review determined that a public health lab is principally permitted on the site. 

You can watch the full hearing below, should you so desire. 

Press release from the City of Eureka:

By order of the City Manager and request of Mayor Kim Bergel, all flags at City facilities will be lowered to half-staff on February 26 in solemn remembrance of the Wiyot people who lost their lives in the February 26, 1860 massacre on Tuluwat Island in Humboldt Bay.

This act of remembrance follows the historic apology issued by former Mayor Frank Jager to the Wiyot Tribe for the horrific events that occurred 166 years ago.

In February 1860, citizens from Eureka participated in what has been described as a massacre of unfathomable proportions. On that winter night, Wiyot people gathered on Tuluwat Island were attacked during the World Renewal Ceremony — a sacred ceremony meant to bring healing to the Earth. Scores of mostly women and children were killed. The ceremony was never finished.

In 2019, the City of Eureka returned Tuluwat Island to the Wiyot Tribe, continuing a process that began with the initial transfer of land in 2004. The return of Tuluwat marked a significant step toward healing and reconciliation, and in recent years the Wiyot people have completed the World Renewal Ceremony on their ancestral land.

“Lowering our flags to half-staff is a visible act of remembrance and respect,” Mayor Bergel said. “We cannot undo the profound harm caused in 1860, but we can continue the work of truth-telling, reconciliation, and partnership. We honor the lives lost, we acknowledge this painful chapter in our City’s history, and we reaffirm our commitment to stand alongside the Wiyot people today and into the future.”

The City of Eureka encourages community members to reflect on this history and to support ongoing efforts that promote understanding, respect, and equity for Indigenous communities.

If you’ve somehow managed to avoid hearing about Arcata’s plan to raise the water rates (and have dodged reading our thorough and fascinating coverage), tonight’s your chance to learn something. There will be an informational meeting hosted by the city at 5:30 at the D Street Neighborhood Center; representatives from city hall will share why they’d like to raise the rates and how they calculated how much to increase them.

It’ll be one of the last meetings Arcata will hold on the subject before a public hearing next month. The city council will likely adopt the changes then, unless more than half of Arcata’s 6,000 water customers write a printed complaint sent to city hall or oppose it in-person at the hearing.

The D Street Neighborhood Center is at 1301 D Street in Arcata. 

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Press release from Planned Parenthood Northern California:

Dozens of generous local donors showed their love for Planned Parenthood Northern California (PPNorCal)—and the thousands of patients who rely on its rural health centers—after a Humboldt County supporter offered a matching gift challenge.

Throughout January, Fieldbrook resident Bill Lutjens offered to match all donations from Humboldt and surrounding counties up to $100,000 in support of the Care Can’t Wait Campaign. PPNorCal is pleased to report that not only has this goal been met, to the tune of more than $113,000, but that news of the gesture has also inspired another Bay Area donor to offer a $500,000 match for donations throughout Northern California.

Last summer, the Trump administration blocked Medicaid (MediCal) reimbursement for the care provided by Planned Parenthood health centers across the country. As a result, PPNorCal lost 70% of its revenue. More than 80% of patients are no longer covered for essential sexual and reproductive care, including cancer screening, STI testing, vasectomies, abortion care, and more. Yet the organization assures these patients are not turned away. People are still being treated, regardless of ability to pay or immigration status.

Care Can’t Wait is a strategic, $12M, one-year initiative to help fill the funding gap for 17 PPNorCal health centers and safeguard access to sexual and reproductive health care. To date, PPNorCal has raised more than $4M in donations to help secure the future of Planned Parenthood health centers throughout Northern California.

Visit PPNorCal.org/carecantwait to participate in the campaign’s donor match and learn more about this essential community resource.

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Attention, commuters and residents of the Samoa Peninsula! Caltrans is seeking public input on its plans to build a roundabout on Route 255, where the Samoa Bridge intersects with New Navy Base Road. 

An open house meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 19, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Manila Community Center. 

Why build a roundabout on the Samoa Peninsula, you ask? Caltrans believes it will improve safety and reduce the risk of severe crashes at the intersection, while “maintaining efficient access for trucks, freight and local traffic.” 

Currently, drivers heading southbound on Route 255 have the right-of-way, with traffic passing across the northbound lane to get onto the Samoa Bridge. Caltrans hopes the “modular roundabout” would streamline the flow of traffic by reducing vehicle speed and channeling all drivers to move in the same direction. 

“Study after study in the U.S., Europe and Australia show that roundabouts improve safety,” according to a fact sheet from the Caltrans Division of Research, Innovation and System Information. “Even in cases where the number of collisions doesn’t go down significantly, the severity of the crashes goes down, resulting in far fewer fatalities and severe injuries.”

Construction on the new roundabout is slated to begin in the summer of 2027. More information on the upcoming open house can be found in the flyer below.

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Representative Jared Huffman has co-sponsored a bill, introduced in the House Monday, that aims to add conditions on military aid to Israel.

The bill — the Ceasefire Compliance Act — would ban the use of US-origin weapons in Gaza and the West Bank if Israel violates an Oct. 10, 2025, ceasefire agreement and 20-point plan, annexes the West Bank or fails to combat settler violence against Palestinians.

“I have a long history of supporting restrictions on how U.S. military aid is used. U.S. weapons should never be used in ways that contribute to civilian deaths, forced displacement, or obstruction of lifesaving aid anywhere,” wrote Huffman in an emailed statement sent by a spokesperson.

Huffman

Huffman is among 25 Democratic co-sponsors of the bill that aims to address ongoing Israeli actions.

Recent settler attacks, ongoing Israeli airstrikes that have killed Palestinians and other violations of the ceasefire deal brokered by the U.S. have pushed the bill’s supporters to make sure the fragile ceasefire is enforceable.

“We need to get as many members of Congress as possible on the record with these bills to ensure the military support we provide is used lawfully. At a moment of catastrophic civilian suffering and deepening starvation, these guardrails are not optional — they are a moral and legal imperative,” said Huffman.

The primary sponsor is Sean Casten, a Democrat representing Illinois.

“As one of the United States’ most important allies, Israel must ensure that its policies and the use of U.S. military assistance align with American values, interests, and the law,” said Rep. Casten in a press release.

The bill creates an end-use monitoring group and adds congressional oversight mechanisms, but exempts defensive missile systems like the Iron Dome, David’s Sling and Arrow 3.

Casten emphasized the bill does not deny Israel the right to defend itself and preserves support for missile defense.

“It does, however, set guardrails to help sustain the ceasefire and keep a credible path toward long-term peace, with security for Israelis and freedom and self-determination for the Palestinian people,” he said in the statement.

The bill was referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Previously, Huffman became a target of local pro-Palestinian activists through protests and a class action lawsuit, which was dismissed by a federal judge last year.

This lawsuit alleged Huffman’s April 2024 supportive vote for $26.4 billion in military aid to Israel caused members emotional harm. Another co-sponsor of this new bill is north bay Democrat Mike Thompson, who was also named in the suit for his vote.

In the statement, Huffman noted he previously co-sponsored H.R. 3565, A.K.A “Block the Bombs Act” which would prohibit the selling or handing off certain weapons to Israel, with a few caveats.

That bill, introduced in 2025, is supported by Amnesty International, who found Israeli airstrikes used these kinds of U.S. origin weapons to kill civilians.