Press release from the Eureka Police Department:

On September 22, 2023 at approximately 11:20 p.m., The Eureka Police Department (EPD) received a call for Shots Fired from a residence in the 4000 block of Campton Road. The Reporting Party stated Richard Kuhnel (69 years old of Eureka) was yelling and firing multiple gunshots from the second story of the residence.

EPD officers responded to the scene and made phone contact with Kuhnel. EPD requested the assistance of the Humboldt County Crisis Negotiations Team (CNT) as Kuhnel had barricaded himself in his attic and was refusing to leave the residence. EPD Detectives were summoned to the scene and authored an arrest warrant for Kuhnel and a search warrant for the residence. CNT members negotiated with Kuhnel until 7:00 a.m. on September 23, 2023, when he exited the residence and was taken into custody without incident.

The search warrant was executed on the residence. During the investigation it was discovered that Kuhnel had fired seventeen (17) rounds during this incident. The investigation revealed rounds were fired out of the residence through the second story windows as well as into the walls inside the residence. Detectives recovered evidence that included shell casings and the handgun used during the shooting. Additional firearms and ammunition were located and seized during the investigation.

Kuhnel was transported to St. Joseph Hospital for medical clearance, for a medical issue not related to the incident, and later booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for a violation of PC 246.3(a), Discharging a firearm in a gross and negligent manner.

The Eureka Police Department would like to thank the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, the CNT team members, and the Fortuna Police Department for their assistance with the peaceful resolution of this incident.