Press release from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office:
On 03-29-2023 at approximately 4:34 AM the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center received a report of an adult male in need of emergency medical assistance on Tabor Lane in Covelo, California.
Deputies were dispatched to the location as it appeared the adult male had sustained some type of injury possibly the result of a physical assault.
Personnel from the Round Valley Tribal Police Department arrived first and began providing CPR as the adult male was absent breathing and a pulse. Medical personnel arrived thereafter and after some time the adult male was declared deceased as emergency life saving efforts were unsuccessful.
Deputies arrived and noticed the adult male had what appeared to be a possible gunshot wound. Sheriff’s Detectives were summoned to the scene and began a death investigation with the assistance of the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office, Mendocino Major Crimes Task Force (MMCTF) and criminalist with the California Department of Justice.
Investigations into the circumstances of the adult male’s death are currently ongoing, thus no further information is currently available for public release.
The adult male has been identified as being Nicholas Shehli Whipple, a 20-year-old male from Redwood Valley (California).
A forensic autopsy has been scheduled for the afternoon of 03-30-2023.
Anyone with information that can assist Sheriff’s Detectives with this death investigation are urged to contact the Sheriff’s Office Tip-Line by calling 707-234-2100 or the WeTip Anonymous Crime Reporting Hotline by calling 800-782-7463.