NORTH COAST, Calif. — The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office said one of its deputies fatally shot a subject on Thursday afternoon, an incident which remains under investigation.

Sheriff’s public information officer Summer Hansen said that at 2:16 p.m. Thursday, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office received a call reporting a male subject who had entered the Bear River Recreation Center with a bandaged, bloody arm and was actively dripping blood throughout the facility.

Deputies arrived on scene and determined that the subject was uncooperative but in need of medical attention. Emergency medical assistance was requested but the subject refused treatment, Hansen said.

At approximately 3:30 p.m., deputies cleared the scene and the subject agreed to leave.
However, instead of leaving, Hansen said the subject became combative and confronted the deputies with a weapon in a threatening manner.

A deputy discharged their service weapon at the suspect, striking the suspect, Hansen said.

Emergency medical assistance was rendered immediately and fire and medical personnel were
dispatched to the scene. Hansen said the suspect was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

Hansen said the suspect is a 29-year-old white male adult. He does not appear to be a resident of Humboldt County or affiliated with the Bear River Rancheria.

The Critical Incident Response Team was notified and investigated the case alongside the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office and the Major Crimes Division.

This incident was witnessed by several people at the scene and was captured on a body-worn camera, said Haensen.

Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Division at 707-268-2539.