Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On July 11, 2020, at about 2 a.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a residence on the 4600 block of Meyers Avenue, in the county’s jurisdiction of Eureka, for the report of a domestic disturbance.

Deputies arrived at the residence and located the suspect, 30-year-old Thomas Augustus Johnston, on the front porch. Johnston was quickly detained for officer safety. During a search of Johnston, deputies located two loaded magazines. A firearm was recovered on the front porch.

Upon further investigation, deputies learned that Johnston had arrived at the residence and began pounding on the door. Johnston then reportedly shot one round through the front door of the residence. While on scene, deputies made contact with a male victim, who was uninjured and had been sheltering inside the residence during the incident. Deputies learned that the victim and Johnston knew each other through a mutual friend.  

Johnston was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of shooting at an inhabited dwelling (PC 246), negligent discharge of a firearm (PC 246.3) and disorderly conduct while under the influence (PC 647(f)). His bail is set at $65,000.

Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.