UPDATE 4 p.m.: Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office press release:

On 02-05-2015 at about 9:30 a.m. the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office received a report, regarding shots being fired in the direction of the Hoopa High School off Highway 96 Hoopa. Hoopa High School decided to go into lock down, because of the shots being fired in the direction of the school. When deputies arrived on scene they were assisted by Humboldt County Juvenile Probation Officer, who happened to be in the area. 

When deputies arrived on scene they learned the shots originated from a residence located at the intersection of Loop Road and Matilton Cutoff Road, Hoopa. This residence is located about 50 yards from the school. Deputies then contacted a female victim, who stated, she was in a verbal argument this morning with her husband, 33 year old, Brandon Joseph Biondini. The victim stated that during the argument with Biondini, she started to walk away from the residence. 

As she was walking away, she heard the sounds of a round being racked into a rifle. The victim said she then started to run. She said she heard (3) three rounds being fired in her direction. The victim escaped without being injured. 

Deputies located Biondini driving a truck on Pine Creek Road, Hoopa a short time later and took him into custody without incident. Biondini was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon, criminal threats, and domestic violence and for discharging a firearm in a negligent manner. Biondini was transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility in Eureka. Biondini bail was set at $500,000 dollars. 

The weapon in this incident has not been recovered and deputies are currently on scene securing the residence for a search warrant. 

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 Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at 707-268-2539.

###

Original post: Hoopa Valley High School administrators temporarily placed the campus on lockdown this morning after gunshots were fired in a nearby domestic dispute, according to Humboldt County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Wayne Hanson. Nobody was hurt, he said.

“This is still unfolding; we don’t know all the facts,” Hanson told the Outpost.

Here’s what’s known so far: Suspect Brandon Biondini, 33, allegedly discharged a firearm toward his female partner, who was not hurt, Hanson said. Biondini is in custody, en route to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of assault with a deadly weapon and making criminal threats. 

Hanson added that he heard, but has yet to verify, that a passerby was near the school and heard gunshots whizzing by. A sheriff’s deputy is gathering information from a witness and waiting at the suspect’s residence for a warrant to search for the weapon, which is believed to be inside.

We’ll update when we get more information.