Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office press release:

On 07-30-2013, approximately 1:00 a.m. the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office received a call from the Fortuna Police Department regarding a 49 year old male victim from Fortuna who was in their lobby. The victim (victim number one) was reporting that someone shot at him and stole his vehicle when he was in Shively. Victim number one had also been reported as a missing person by a friend after he failed to show up for work and come home that evening.

A Humboldt County Sheriff’s Deputy met with the victim who told the deputy on 7-28-2013 he contacted by a 31 year old male friend (victim number 2), who said he had a flat tire and was stranded about eight miles out Shively Road. Victim number two requested victim number one locate and deliver a car jack to him because he did not have one. When victim number one arrived in his Honda Accord he helped victim number two change the car tire. While changing the tire an unknown man walked out of the bushes with an M-16 type of assault rifle and pointed the weapon at them. The man told victim number one to sit on the ground or he would shoot him. Victim number two ran off immediately after seeing the assault rifle. The man with the rifle began shooting at victim number two as he fled, firing at least four shots at him. About the same time a female came out of the brush. The female suspect demanded the victim’s keys and cell phone. The female then told victim number one he was lucky he was not dead. The male suspect then struck victim number one with the rifle butt. Victim number one lost consciousness. When he awoke all four tires of the truck his friend was driving had been slashed and the Honda Accord victim number one drove to the scene was missing. Victim number one fled into the brush fearing for his safety where he covered himself with dirt and leaves to conceal himself from the suspects. After several hours he hiked down to the Eel River. He later hiked back up to the road and located the Honda Accord which had all the tires slashed on it too. He continued hiking out the road until he met with a female friend who gave him a ride home.

Victim number one complained of pain to his cheek area from being struck by the rifle butt, however had no other injuries.

Deputies went out to the scene and located both victim number ones Honda Accord and victim number twos Chevy truck. Both had all tires slashed. They also located four spent rifle casings where victim number one said victim number two was shot at. Deputies were unable to locate victim number two.

The suspects were described as follows:

Suspect #1 White male adult, late 20’s or early 30’s , thin face, short brown hair, approximately 6’ tall, 200 lbs, appears to have had a shaved head recently however hair is growing back, wearing a brown t-shirt, blue jeans

Suspect #2 White female adult, late 20’s to early 30’s, 5’ 2” tall, 160 lbs, blond curly hair below the shoulders, wearing a black t-shirt with white accents, lace over the shoulders, dirty appearance.

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