The Eureka Police Department issued a press release Monday which provides a fuller picture of events Sunday afternoon that left one woman dead in Eureka and her suspected killer dead in Fortuna. Read it below:
On May 6, 2018, at about 4:52 p.m., officers with the Eureka Police Department (EPD)
responded to a residence on the 3300 block of H Street in Eureka for the report of shotsfired. Upon arrival, officers located a female with a gunshot wound and an uninjured
female. The uninjured female told officers that the suspect, 52 year old Ronald Allen
Crossland, fled the scene in her black Honda Accord. A Be on the Lookout (BOLO) was
issued for Crossland and the vehicle.
Lifesaving efforts were initiated on the female with the gunshot wound and she was
transported by ambulance to the hospital, where she was pronounced deceased. Next of
kin has been notified and she has been identified as 60 year old Sharral Lynne McDonald
of Fortuna.
At about 7:22 p.m., the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) located the black
Honda Accord parked near the 2400 block of Fern Street in Cutten. The vehicle was
unoccupied. Deputies and officers searched the area but were unable to locate Crossland.
Just before 9:00 p.m., the Fortuna Police Department (FOPD) was searching for
Crossland near the 300 block of North Fortuna Boulevard based on previous contacts at
the location. While on scene, FOPD heard a single gunshot. Crossland was located with
what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the
scene.
Crossland was known to the uninjured female victim and McDonald; however, the exact
motive of the shooting is unknown at this time. Anyone with information regarding this
incident is asked to call Detective Bise at (707) 441-4109.