Eureka Police Department press release: 

 

On March 29, 2017, at about 8:30 p.m., officers with the Eureka Police Department responded to the 1300 block of McFarlan Street for the report of shots fired toward a process server attempting to serve civil paperwork.

The victim told officers that he was attempting to contact the occupants of the residence when he heard what he believed to be shots coming from an upstairs window. The victim said he then retreated to a nearby business and called the police.

Officers established a perimeter and shut down McFarlan Street from Myrtle to 16th Street. Dispatch conducted a reverse 911 advising nearby residents to shelter in place. Ultimately, four people were detained without further incident. After obtaining a search warrant, detectives searched the residence. Detectives located two black powder pistols, one unloaded and one that had two chambers that had been fired. The pistol chambers were loaded with black powder, but no projectiles.

The suspect told detectives he saw the victim on his surveillance system and fired two blanks into the air from his bathroom window which is located on the opposite side of the residence from the front door. Due to the fact that the firearm had no projectile, was never actually seen by the victim, and there was no threat made to the victim, the incident did not appear to meet the elements for negligent discharge or any other charge. The case will be presented to the District Attorney’s Office.