CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Police Department is seeking the assailants in a shooting Tuesday night.

Sgt. Nick Bennett said officers were dispatched at approximately 8:47 p.m. to the area of 36th and Phillips avenues on a report of shots fired and a person yelling for help.

On arrival officers located 43-year-old Geraldo Rivera lying in the rear yard of 15886 36th Ave. and determined he had been shot in the lower portion of his body, Bennett said.

Witnesses in the area stated they had heard several shots fired and had seen a vehicle leaving the area at a high rate of speed, Bennett said.

Bennett said Rivera told police that the power in his residence had gone out and when he went to the backyard to check the electrical service panel he was confronted by masked individuals who began shooting at him. They then ran in different directions out of his sight.

While officers were securing the area and searching for the suspects and other possible victims in and around the residence, Bennett said they discovered a large amount of processed marijuana inside the residence, as well as packaging materials, scales and plastic tote tubs, and numerous weapons and thousands of rounds of pistol and rifle ammunition.

Officers on the scene determined the residence was used solely for the purpose of cultivating and sales of marijuana, Bennett said.

Although there was a medical marijuana recommendation card at the residence, it did not permit the nearly 100 pounds of cultivated marijuana that was ultimately seized, along with the illegal weapons and ammunition in the possession of a convicted felon – Rivera – after a search warrant was issued by a Lake County Superior Court Judge, according to Bennett.

Rivera was treated at the scene by Station 70, transported to St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake and then transported to an out-of-area hospital for further treatment, according to Bennett.

Bennett said detectives were called in to take over the crime scene and the investigation continues.

Any person with information in relation to this case is encouraged to contact Det. Ryan Peterson at the Clearlake Police Department at 707-994-8251, Extension 320.