Suspect's firearm
A press conference was held at 3 p.m. this afternoon at the Eureka Police Department and concluded around 3:20 p.m. Sheriff Mike Downey, Undersheriff William Honsal, EPD Captain Steve Watson, CHP Assistant Chief Scott Gillingwater and CHP Commanding Officer for Humboldt and Garberville Brett Fabri were also present at the press conference.
The suspect who died after shooting CHP officer Steve Curtis is 20 years old, had a 45 caliber semi-automatic Springfield Armory pistol, said Chief Andrew Mills. "We do not know where this gun came from. We have a 20 year old with a gun he could not buy. We have photos from facebook. Today, in Stanislaus and San Diego, we have two situations where an active shooter had to be routed out. As a county we have to get serious about gun safety issue. I understand the second amendment. We have a situation that almost cost an officer his life and it cost a young man his life."
The officer's gun was 40 caliber Smith and Wesson. An autposy was conducted today at 1 p.m. said Chief Mills.
O'Quinn is a local resident, not from Eureka even though he has an address of record from Eureka. No local criminal history. One out of state conviction. He was arrested for a DUI in Pennsylvania.
The other four passengers in the car were detained, interviewed and released, they were not armed and do not seem to be involved in the altercation between Officer Curtis and O'Quinn.
The officer is out of the hospital and "it appears he will make a full recovery" said Commanding Officer Fabri. Assistant Chief Gillingwater thanked law enforcement as well as the community for their outpouring of support for Officer Curtis.
Chief Mills said that today's briefing was from the incident on Sunday, Nov 1, when a CHP officer "on-duty ended up having a gunfight with a suspect, who ultimately succumbed to injuries."
He gave out a timeline of events with information about the suspect and officer and weapon. After the investigation is completed, it will be forwarded to the Humboldt County District Attorney to review.
"As we grow up, each of us looks for heroes," is how Chief Mills opened his press conference. People we can respect and model our behavior after. We respect their actions and and appreciate their behavior. We think what we would do in this situation. Thousands of CHP officers and hundreds of police officers place their lives on line daily in very precarious situations. Sometimes we come out on top." Chief Mills voice choked up a bit as he said this, then he continued. "Based on the video I saw and the actions that took place, Steve Curtis is a hero."
Chief Mills said the green sedan involved in the November 1 incident was driving erratically, forcing people off the road. Officer Curtis recognized the five occupants in the green sedan. After the car "rested on the curb", Officer Curtis walked over and talked to O'Quinn. Asked him to step out of the vehicle, which is standard procedure, said Chief Mills. "O'Quinn pivoted his feet to the ground and mumbled something like, I'm about to have a bad day." Chief Mills said Officer Curtis had to tell him to step out of the car three or four times. O'Quinn pulled a gun out of his waistband, "broke away from the Officer's grip" and shot the officer in the upper right thigh. The Officer fired multiple rounds. The gunfight between the two lasted a few seconds, said Chief Mills. "Even on the ground, the suspect held gun in the air. The officer told people in the car to put their hands up in the air and to stay in the car. I cannot describe the discipline it takes to hold your fire when you are outnumbered and outgunned," said Chief Mills.
"We don't know O'Quinn's motivation," said Chief Mills. "There are rumors; people saying he wanted to die."
EPD Detective Terry Liles is the lead in this investigation. O' Quinn was hit multiple times in the upper body. No ballistics yet.
The officer's gun was 40 caliber Smith and Wesson. An autposy was conducted today at 1 p.m. said Chief Mills.
O'Quinn is a local resident, not from Eureka even though he has an address of record from Eureka. No local criminal history. One out of state conviction. He was arrested for a DUI in Pennsylvania.
The other four passengers in the car were detained, interviewed and released, they were not armed and do not seem to be involved in the altercation between Officer Curtis and O'Quinn.
The officer is out of the hospital and "it appears he will make a full recovery" said Commanding Officer Fabri. Assistant Chief Gillingwater thanked law enforcement as well as the community for their outpouring of support for Officer Curtis.
Chief Mills said that today's briefing was from the incident on Sunday, Nov 1, when a CHP officer "on-duty ended up having a gunfight with a suspect, who ultimately succumbed to injuries."
He gave out a timeline of events with information about the suspect and officer and weapon. After the investigation is completed, it will be forwarded to the Humboldt County District Attorney to review.
"As we grow up, each of us looks for heroes," is how Chief Mills opened his press conference. People we can respect and model our behavior after. We respect their actions and and appreciate their behavior. We think what we would do in this situation. Thousands of CHP officers and hundreds of police officers place their lives on line daily in very precarious situations. Sometimes we come out on top." Chief Mills voice choked up a bit as he said this, then he continued. "Based on the video I saw and the actions that took place, Steve Curtis is a hero."
Chief Mills said the green sedan involved in the November 1 incident was driving erratically, forcing people off the road. Officer Curtis recognized the five occupants in the green sedan. After the car "rested on the curb", Officer Curtis walked over and talked to O'Quinn. Asked him to step out of the vehicle, which is standard procedure, said Chief Mills. "O'Quinn pivoted his feet to the ground and mumbled something like, I'm about to have a bad day." Chief Mills said Officer Curtis had to tell him to step out of the car three or four times. O'Quinn pulled a gun out of his waistband, "broke away from the Officer's grip" and shot the officer in the upper right thigh. The Officer fired multiple rounds. The gunfight between the two lasted a few seconds, said Chief Mills. "Even on the ground, the suspect held gun in the air. The officer told people in the car to put their hands up in the air and to stay in the car. I cannot describe the discipline it takes to hold your fire when you are outnumbered and outgunned," said Chief Mills.
"We don't know O'Quinn's motivation," said Chief Mills. "There are rumors; people saying he wanted to die."
EPD Detective Terry Liles is the lead in this investigation. O' Quinn was hit multiple times in the upper body. No ballistics yet.
Nov 2, 2015
CHP officer involved in yesterday's shooting is okay
Nov 1, 2015
DA to investigate officer involved shooting at 4th and Q
On Sunday, 11/01/15, at about 4:19 PM, Eureka Police Department officers were dispatched to the vicinity of 4th and ‘Q’ Streets to assist a California Highway Patrol officer who had just been shot during a traffic stop. Officers from other local agencies responded to assist as well.
Upon arrival, officers observed an adult male down in the roadway next to the driver’s door of an older model, green two-door sedan. The suspect’s vehicle was stopped facing northbound on ‘Q’ Street between 3rd and 4th Streets with the CHP unit behind it. The CHP officer, who had been shot in the leg, was at his vehicle holding the remaining 4 passengers in the sedan at gunpoint.
EPD officers evacuated the wounded CHP officer back to a position of cover and then detained the occupants of the suspect’s vehicle one at a time at gunpoint.
Once the area was secured, emergency medical personnel summoned to the scene began rendering aid to the officer and suspect. Both were transported to a local hospital by ambulance where the suspect was later pronounced deceased. The officer sustained a non-life threatening gunshot wound and is expected to survive.
This officer involved shooting (OIS) is being investigated by the multi-agency Humboldt County Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT). Since the incident occurred within the City of Eureka, EPD is heading up the investigation with a co-lead from the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office. Other agencies assisting with the CIRT investigation include the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, Humboldt County Drug Task Force, and Fortuna Police Department. Criminologists with the California Department of Justice (DOJ) are processing the scene for evidence.
4th Street has been shut down to all westbound traffic at ‘R’ Street as investigators work through the night to process the scene. ‘Q’ Street has also been closed to traffic between 3rd Street and Myrtle Avenue.
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