PREVIOUSLY

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A Eureka teen accused of attempted murder and firing at an occupied vehicle is out of jail today on supervised release.

Judge Kelly Neel, who earlier this week set bail at $190,000 for Daniel Robert Logan Fernandez-Ralls, decided this afternoon to release him. Neel noted Fernandez-Ralls is employed, attending college and has no criminal record. He just turned 18 and lives with his family.

About 15 family members and friends, including Fernandez-Ralls’s employer, were in court today to support him. Also, the two alleged victims in the case appeared via Zoom to say they are not interested in pursuing charges and do not believe Fernandez-Ralls is a danger to them.

On the morning of Dec. 23, the alleged victims were driving on Highway 101 near the Highway 299 offramp when they came upon two vehicles that were side-by-side blocking both lanes so they couldn’t pass.

Deputy District Attorney Jessica Acosta told Neel that Fernandez-Ralls pulled over and waved them by.

As they were about level with him, Acosta said, the alleged victims saw a gun and Fernandez-Ralls fired a shot.

Deputy Public Defender Wade Orbelian responded that Fernandez-Ralls fired in self-defense because the driver (apparently of the third vehicle) had been screaming threats at him (“I’m going to kill you, motherfucker!”) and throwing objects at his windshield.

As to where Fernandez-Ralls got the 9mm Glock he allegedly fired, according to the California Highway Patrol report he borrowed it from a friend.

Acosta said Fernandez-Ralls fled the scene and went to the home of the friend who loaned him the gun, telling him, “The cops are after me.”

He was arrested later that day. No one was injured during the incident and no damage was reported.

Fernandez-Ralls was ordered to return to court Jan. 9 for his preliminary hearing.

Acosta said she expects the hearing — with two officers testifying — to last about 90 minutes. Fernandez-Ralls’s parents assured Neel today that they have no firearms in their home.