Press release from the Fortuna Police Department:

On April 23, 2023 at approximately 4:40 p.m. the Fortuna Police Department received a report of a suspected homicide at a residence in the 2300 block of Newburg Road in Fortuna. The adult male suspect was reportedly armed and barricaded inside the residence.

Fortuna Officers coordinated a response, residents in the immediate area were notified and evacuated for their safety. Over the course of several hours numerous attempts to establish contact with the suspect were made in order to negotiate with him. The suspect remained non-responsive throughout all attempts to communicate. While attempting to establish contact officers heard a single possible gunshot from inside the residence. A request for assistance was made and the multi-agency Crisis Negotiation Team and Humboldt County SWAT Team responded to assist.

Humboldt County SWAT assisted with tactical command including further attempts to establish negotiations to no avail. They eventually made entry into the residence where the suspect was located deceased from what preliminarily appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. A second adult male was found inside also deceased from what preliminarily appeared to be an apparent gunshot wound. The Fortuna Police Department is currently investigating the matter as a suspected homicide-suicide.

The Fortuna Police Department would like to thank residents for their patience and express our gratitude to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, Rio Dell Police Department, Ferndale Police Department, Fortuna Volunteer Fire Department and City Ambulance for their assistance during this operation/investigation.

There is no remaining active threat to the community related to this investigation. The names of the deceased are being withheld pending the Coroner’s investigation and notification of next of kin.

The Fortuna Police Department remains committed to public safety and transparency.