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An Arcata man involved in an April 1 shootout on Highway 299 has been charged with attempted first-degree murder and a slew of weapons charges that could put him in prison for life.

Canfield.

Christopher Lee Canfield, 31, allegedly shot and wounded Diamond Jesus Larancuent during the shootout, with bullets fired from both Canfield’s Range Rover and the Suburban in which Larancuent was riding. 

The District Attorney’s Office charged Canfield with premeditated attempted murder, attempted robbery by force or fear, assault with a semiautomatic handgun and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He also faces the special allegations of personal use of a firearm and personal and intentional discharge of a firearm.

Larancuent was taken to Trinity Hospital in Weaverville for treatment of a gunshot wound. A hospital spokeswoman said this morning he is no longer a patient there.
According to the California Highway Patrol, reports came in about 3 p.m. April 1 that the occupants of two vehicles were in an altercation on Highway 299 west of Willow Creek.

“Witnesses reported a subject in the Range Rover had stopped and fired a gun at the occupants of the Suburban,” the CHP said in a news release. “Both vehicles fled eastbound on SR 299, toward Willow Creek.”

The CHP and Humboldt County sheriff’s deputies pulled the Range Rover over and arrested Canfield, who had a loaded handgun in his car. The driver of the Suburban did not stop, but that vehicle was eventually pulled over in Trinity County. The CHP did not state whether anyone in that car was arrested.

Canfield remains in Humboldt County Correctional Facility with bail set at $1.245 million. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 22.

According to the written complaint filed by the district attorney, Canfield has convictions for assault with a deadly weapon, auto theft, burglary and being a felon in possession of ammunition.