On 12-03-2021 at 1:06 A.M., Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Deputies were dispatched to a report of an assault with a firearm in the 28000 block of Albion Ridge Road, in Albion, California.
The reporting party was able to call 911 even though he had been shot by an unknown assailant(s) through his bedroom window. The reporting party also advised that he had returned fire with his own firearm after being shot.
Deputies responded to the area with lights and sirens. Prior to the Deputies’ arrival, a family member of the victim called and stated that he was now with the victim and at least one suspect was observed fleeing on foot downhill into a wooded area.
Sheriff’s Deputies from all areas of the county responded to Albion as there was a reported suspect, armed with a firearm, in the woods near the victim’s residence.
Once there were sufficient Deputies on scene, an Adventist Health Mendocino Coast Ambulance responded to provide medical treatment to the victim. The victim was transported to the hospital where he was later transferred to an out of county hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound to the head.
The victim survived the incident with moderate to major injuries sustained.
Mendocino County Sheriff’s Detectives responded to the scene and assumed the investigation, while patrol deputies continued their search efforts for the suspect(s).
At approximately 9:30 AM, Deputies located two male subjects hiding in the brush nearby. The subjects had no reasonable explanation as to why they were hiding in the brush near the shooting scene and they were found to be from out of county.
Deputies located a firearm, facemask and latex gloves also in the brush near where the suspects were located.
The two suspects (Roberto Chavez-Souza and Jose Morfin-Aguilar) were ultimately booked into the Mendocino County Jail for attempted murder (664/187(A) PC) and Conspiracy (182(A)(1) PC).
Both suspects were ultimately released from custody pending additional investigation surrounding the incident.
In May of 2022, after additional investigations had been conducted surrounding the circumstances of this case, as well as receiving additional evidence that implicated suspect Jose Panduro-Rodriguez, felony arrest warrants were issued for all three suspects.
Roberto Chavez-Souza was arrested in July of 2023 and has been in custody at the Mendocino County Jail since that time.
Jose Morfin-Aguilar has an outstanding felony warrant for his arrest for this incident.
Jose Panduro-Rodriguez, was arrested at United States Port of Entry by the Customs and Border Patrol (San Diego, CA) in October of 2023 on his warrant and unrelated federal charges. Panduro-Rodriguez was released from federal custody and subsequently booked into the Mendocino County Jail on 10-31-2023.
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What was the motive?
The Ford Street Project should help these fine individuals.
Or these individual’s kids someday.