Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On September 8, 2020, at about 5:52 a.m., the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Communications Center was contacted by the Hoopa Valley Tribal Police Department regarding a gunshot victim located in the area of Mill Creek Road and Highway 96.

According to Tribal Police, officers in the area were investigating an unrelated incident when they were approached by a 29-year-old female gunshot victim for emergency assistance. The victim was transported to a local hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot injury and is in stable condition.

Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the area to begin their investigation. Investigating deputies learned that the victim had been involved in a domestic altercation at a residence on Mill Creek Road. The victim reportedly drove away from the residence following the altercation. While driving, an unknown suspect(s) reportedly shot at the victim’s vehicle, striking and injuring the victim.

Upon arriving at the residence in which the original altercation reportedly occurred, deputies were unable to locate any subjects involved in the incident.  

While investigating this incident, Sheriff’s deputies received information that a black four-door Audi possibly associated with this incident had been observed at a convenience store in the Hoopa area. Deputies located a vehicle matching the description provided traveling on Mill Creek Road and attempted a traffic stop. The vehicle fled at a high rate of speed onto Upper Mill Creek Road. Deputies pursued the vehicle but lost sight of it and terminated the pursuit due to poor visibility conditions.

A short while later, deputies received information that Forest Service personnel assigned to the Red Salmon Complex Fire observed the vehicle traveling south on Big Hill Road. Forest Service personnel then re-contacted deputies after discovering the Audi abandoned further down the road. Deputies performed a search of the location and were unable to locate suspects associated with the vehicle.  

This is an ongoing investigation. Although initial information indicated that these two incidents were connected, it is still unknown at this time whether these two cases are related. More information will be released when available.

Anyone with information about these cases 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.