Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Captain Greg Van Patten said deputies were dispatched to Covelo’s Black Butte Store yesterday evening at approximately 7:30 regarding reports of an adult male suffering a gunshot wound to the chest.
Thomas Ochsner, the owner of the Black Butte Store, told us he was at home when two Spanish-speaking men arrived at the store driving a blue, newer model Toyota Tacoma. He said the victim reportedly suffered 3-4 gunshot wounds in the shoulder. Ochsner was told the gunshot victim had a t-shirt wrapped around his shoulder that was “soaked in blood.” Ochsner said he clearly saw a bullet hole in the door of the Toyota Tacoma. Round Valley Tribal Police arrived shortly after the gunshot victim did.
Captain Van Patten told us an eyewitness to the shooting interviewed at the store told deputies the shooting occurred at “an undetermined location in Covelo as of now.”
The victim was transported out of the county by air ambulance for medical treatment, Captain Van Patten said.
Sheriff’s detectives will be traveling out of the county to interview the victim “who thus far has survived the gunshot wound,” added Captain Van Patten.
The Captain characterized the investigation into the incident as “ongoing” and said, “No further information is available for public release.”
It is worth noting that this is the second time within the last week someone has suffered a gunshot wound to the chest near Round Valley. An argument inside a vehicle resulted in one man shooting another in the chest along Highway 162 on the evening of July 4. As of the last reporting, the suspect in that shooting remains at large.
