Last Friday, April 12th, 2024, a standoff erupted in Henderson, Nevada, involving local police and an armed, suicidal individual barricaded in an apartment. The suspect, wanted for a violent crime, eventually died during the multi-day incident.
Despite attempts to de-escalate, the situation intensified over the weekend, prompting a SWAT team deployment. The subject opened fire on the entering tactical unit, but no injuries were reported. Authorities resorted to using an excavator to breach the building.
Approximately thirty hours later, the standoff concluded with the death of the subject, identified as 31-year-old Trevor Cooper.
Multiple media outlets have begun to report on Cooper’s background, touching on his background in Jiu-Jitsu.
But, Mendocino County is well-acquainted with Trevor Cooper. His criminal record within the county is extensive, and he was a known entity in the local martial arts circuits. A local woman even remembers him for his kindness towards his adopted animal companion.
Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Andy Porter told us Cooper was known to local law enforcement as a skilled martial artist and a dangerous person.
The Anderson Valley Adverstier’s Catch of the Day column indicates he was a Redwood Valley resident on or around May 16, 2017, when he was booked on charges of driving with a suspended license.
The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office asked the public for help on June 14, 2017, after reports emerged of Cooper reportedly going missing.
According to a post on the agency’s Facebook page, he went missing on June 13, 2017, around 9:30 p.m. and was last seen by his mother in a 2017 Ford F-150. The vehicle would later be found on the 1300 block of McNab Ranch Road “with some of his personal effects inside of it” and with “indications that Trevor may be injured”. MCSO wrote at the time, “Trevor’s location and well-being is unknown.”
Cooper eventually arrived at Willits’s Howard Memorial in the early morning of Thursday, June 15, 2017, alleging he had been kidnapped and held overnight. An article from KZYX said that Cooper did not give much detail about his alleged abduction due to his “minor injuries”
Lieutenant Porter told us that upon questioning about the alleged abduction investigators came to believe Cooper staged the kidnapping trying to build an alibi for charges of stalking and domestic violence he would later face.
A police log from the Ukiah Daily Journal dated October 20, 2017, indicates that 24-year-old Cooper was arrested on suspicion of stalking, threatening injury and conspiring to commit a felony and domestic battery. A review of the Mendocino County Superior Court records indicates these charges would later be dismissed.
In November 2018, officers with the Ukiah Police Department responded to a home on the 800 block of West Mill Street after receiving reports of cannabis being grown in the backyard. A press release from UPD states Cooper answered the door, acknowledged having cannabis, and allowed officers to enter the home to see the cannabis. Inside officers located equipment used to make butane honey oil, 4 “replica assault weapons”, and $5,000.
But not all of Cooper’s Mendocino County legacy is problematic.
Ukiah resident Chris Edwards remembered Cooper as a “great jiu jitsu mentor” and “one of the most talented Jiu Jitusu guys I had ever known.”
Edwards told us Cooper began his Jiu Jiutsu career at Ukiah’s Mendocino Combat Club and later moved to Thailand to further his training. When Cooper returned to the United States, he briefly returned to his Ukiah fighting gym which was now the Mendo Training Center.
Eventually, Edwards said Cooper studied under Dave Terrell, a well-known Jiu-Jitsu trainer out of the Nor Cal Fighting Alliance in Santa Rosa.
Becca Edwards, the Dog Kennel Manager at the Humane Society for Inland Mendocino County, told us Cooper adopted a dog from them around six years ago, and she remembers Cooper as a “very nice guy in all my experiences with him.” He “took very good care of his dog.”
The last time she heard from Cooper was in August 2023 when he messaged Edwards on Instagram asking her about pet insurance.
After hearing the news of this weekend’s standoff, Edwards is concerned about the dog’s well-being. She asked if anyone knows about the status of the dog to email her at dogteam@hsimc.org
But this last weekend, Cooper had a horrific interaction with law enforcement in Henderson, Nevada that ended with police literally tearing apart the building he had barricaded himself in. Images of that fatal encounter have headlined news sites in the Nevada area these last few days.
Kristina Pelly Filocamo, a woman who lived in the Henderson, Nevada neighborhood where the standoff took place, told us she watched as law enforcement yelled out “Trevor come out, this isn’t a game, you need to come out with your hands up”. She said that Cooper had “created havoc in our normally very sleepy neighborhood.”
Law enforcement reports that the suspect was “making suicidal statements, refusing to surrender.” Eventually, they said, “On April 13, 2024, at about 8:45am, Henderson’s SWAT team made entry into the residence where the suspect discharged multiple rounds.” They left and no one was reported to be injured.
In the early hours of April 14, law enforcement reported they found Cooper dead. Media states that he may have overdosed.
Filocamo, the neighbor in Henderson, Nevada who witnessed the barricade speaks for many when she kindly says, “Please pray for all of the families who have been displaced, and also pray for Trevor’s family- they lost their son and that breaks my heart as well. No one would want this to happen to their family members.”
What a shame, I suspect this guy wasn’t a bad person deep down but apparently had some sort of unresolved psychological issues. I think MMA can be a really positive thing and I’ve known people in the local scene, but unfortunately it also attracts a lot of really dumb bros and their particular brand of stupidity. I wouldn’t at all be surprised if this kid had fallen down the incel-Rogan-Tate rabbit hole. Those guys are pure negativity, and if you heap that junk onto an already troubled kid you’re adding fuel to a fire. Sad situation all around, and I hope his dog is okay.
What in the world are you talking about? Joe Rogan is not an incel. He’s married and has children which would make him not qualify as an incel. His podcast is very wide ranging in people he has on his show from scientists to anthropologists to rockstars, movie stars, to comedians and everyone in between. How is that a “rabbit hole” and “pure negativity” ?
Agree. Rogan is a huge advocate of being compassionate towards people and personal responsibility.
Commenter obviously doesn’t listen to Rogan. Lol
They are not talking about Joe Rogan himself, but the type of person would listen to Rogan, Tate, and other “Alpha” male influencers etc. & take what they say as gospel.
Rogan in & of himself isn’t an issue, but the rhetoric that can be found on his show can reinforce some unsavory things, especially in young men.
Rogan has even said not to listen to him cause he’s not an expert on the topics he discusses, but people still take everything said on his show at face value.
“They’re not talking about Joe Rogan himself but the type of person that would listen to Joe Rogan.” -Gee that’s an amazing comment. Joe Rogan listeners are just as diverse as his guests. Hell my doctor listens to him because they had someone on once talking about sugar and health and blood pressure.
What “Rhetoric?” Like when they interview Joey Diaz? or how about Eric Weinstein? or Randall Carlson? or Bob Lazar? or Jocko Willink? How is there rhetoric? There is no rhetoric. There’s not even a common theme to these guests and their topics. Why don’t you go listen to a show? You might find it fascinating!
Mendo exported mental illness?
https://mendofever.com/2022/07/24/residents-suffering-serious-mental-illness-are-often-sent-to-socal-where-care-is-available-mendocino-county-grand-jury-report/
Sometimes when proper help is not a available in the northern part of our state then yes for every condition they will send people to the southern end. I know of people going as far as San Diego for care. It is pretty rare but it is pretty rare.
That Buddha Temple would make a great mental ward again.
Kind of weird MCSO Porter talks about the person being well known to LEO and being a criminal but only cites a driving on a suspended license and some GF Dispute that was all dismissed. Then a contact was made for pot plants but no charges. Hmmm! So, sounds like no record at all except a traffic ticket and this was a suicide situation. Seems like a lot of missing facts.
I get what you mean but…
Point of Fact:
Driving on a suspended license is NOT a Traffic Infraction.
It’s a non-aggavated Misdemeanor, which is a crime, often followed by a trip to jail and maybe an impounded vehicle.
1st offense can carry up to 6 months in jail (or 3yrs probation), $1000 fine + court costs.
It’s not major but it’s no speeding ticket.
My Myagi is NOT happy with this Grasshopper.
I knew him over the past year and trained with him. He showed nothing but kindness in the gym. A team mate has his dog.
Regardless of this young man’s past history & lifestyle, he must have been struggling with some issues that became overwelming that brought him to this moment in life. Such a tragic loss for him, his family & his canine companion. I noticed this post mentioned a friend has his dog & hope you can pass that info onto the gal at the Humane Society of Inland Mendocino mentioned in this article who voiced her concern about his dog? They are wonderful, caring animal people who have interacted with my family members regarding some unowned creatures needing care. I must say, the approach by law enforcement seemed extremely aggressive, regardless of the situation &/or potential escalation when the solution had to become physical destruction of the home – then claiming they “discovered” him dead by suicide? Something missing here. He was your friend & this is ass time for the people who knew him to be a kind & good person. Wishes to the person who took on the care of his dog, the pooch will be mourning his companion & need extra care & attention – likely lost his very best friend. Thoughts with all.
I went to my first public school in 2008. We had a special education curriculum for behavioraly challenged children. And Trevor was one of my class mates. Trevor was extremely talented in the Tai-Chi class that our teacher conducted. I remember Trevor would ride his bicycle everywhere and was extremely athletic. He had a drive for success and was very kind. He even took it easy on me when I knew he could overpower me. Unfortunately, hearing this news makes me very sad. Having known that Trevor was still battling with his mental health I would have reached out. Unfortunately, many of us who struggle with mental health remain silent due to fear of stigma and biases. And sometimes it becomes too late. I pray that God just loves on his family and I hope his dog finds a loving home.
He was the kindest soul. I knew him. He wasn’t meant to leave. He didn’t want to. I know that. He lives on, he was the brightest star. The most intellectual person I have ever met and the best jiu jitsu guy around. He loved Small Dog. She was his world. He loved hard.