NORTH COAST, Calif. – A Covelo man wanted on a Lake County warrant was arrested early Thursday in connection to the shooting death of a woman last Sunday.

Jeremy Jason Freeman-Britton, 21, was arrested for the murder of 21-year-old Rosalena Belle Rodriguez of Covelo, according to a report from Capt. Greg Van Patten of the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office.

Van Patten said Freeman-Britton also was arrested on a Lake County felony arrest warrant for a charge of criminal threats in regards to an unrelated incident.

A motorist found Rodriguez's body last Sunday morning in the roadway in the 78000 block of Hopper Lane in Covelo, Van Patten said. She appeared to have been shot several times.

A Tuesday autopsy confirmed she had suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Van Patten said blood alcohol and toxicology analysis is pending.

At 11 p.m. Wednesday Mendocino County Sheriff's detectives contacted 28-year-old Nicole Hawkins at Willits residence, subsequently arresting her for an open charge of elder abuse and probation violation in regards to an unrelated incident, Van Patten said.

He said Hawkins was booked into the Mendocino County Jail to be held in lieu of $25,000 bail.

Van Patten's report did not explain Hawkins' connection to the case.

At 1 a.m. Thursday, sheriff's detectives contacted Freeman-Britton and Sidney Lewis Freeman, 23, also of Covelo, at a residence in the 100 block of Yuki Street in Covelo, Van Patten said.

During the contact Freeman-Britton was arrested on the Lake County warrant, with Freeman arrested on an active Mendocino County misdemeanor arrest warrant for a charge of violation of probation, according to Van Patten.

After the arrests were made, Van Patten said sheriff's detectives established probable cause to arrest Freeman-Britton and Freeman for the murder of Rodriguez, and both were booked into the Mendocino County Jail to be held on a no bail status.

At noon on Thursday the Mendocino County District Attorney's Office decided not to file a murder charge on Freeman after a review of the evidence collected by investigators to date, Van Patten said.

He said sheriff’s detectives are continuing investigations and no further information will be released at this time due to the ongoing investigation.

Freeman-Britton remained in the Mendocino County Jail on charges including murder early Friday, according to booking records.

Anyone with information that could assist sheriff's detectives with their investigation into this incident is urged to leave a message on the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office Tip-Line by calling 707-234-2100.