Early Morning Shooting in Leaves One Dead, Eureka Police Say It Appears to be Self Defense

Eureka, Ca. (KIEM) Police are investigating an early morning shooting that leaves one person dead, but say it appears to self-defense.

Just before 3 Friday morning, Eureka Police were dispatched to the 1300 block of West Avenue for a report of multiple subjects in an altercation. An occupant of a nearby residence confronted the subjects from his porch and advised them to leave the area.

According to EPD, the subjects confronted the resident and entered onto his property. After trying to use pepper spray to deter the subjects, the man went back into his home.

Police say at least one subject entered the residence and attempted to assault the man, who then fired multiple shots from a handgun and struck the subject who was assaulting him. The subject was pronounced dead at the scene. A second subject was struck in the leg and transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The investigation is ongoing, but at this point, detectives say the shooting appears to have been done in self-defense. According to lead detectives and the district attorney’s office, no arrests will be made at this time and a completed report will be forwarded to the d-a’s office for review.