Richard Kuhnel arrested on Ramey warrant for negligent discharge of a firearm

 

71 year old Richard Kuhnel was arrested by Eureka Police Department yesterday on a Ramey warrant for PC 246.3 (a) negligent discharge of a firearm. Kuhnel's age is from the jail booking log. Kuhnel posted bond.

I spoke with EPD Crime Analyst Brittany Powell to get more details including Kuhnel's middle name which was not included in the jail log.

"Richard David Kuhnel was arrested at his residence on the 4000 block of Campton after Eureka Police and Humboldt County Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) negotiated for nearly 6 hours, after he negligently discharged a firearm in his home.  While negotiations were taking place, the Eureka Police Department Criminal Investigations Unit (CIU) obtained a Ramey warrant for his arrest and a search warrant for his residence."

Most readers know how to use Google and pull up the same information listed below. Since the jail log did not list a middle name, I cannot confirm whether this the same Richard Kuhnel as the Richard D. Kuhnel with previous addresses on 1604 G and 1534 G Street or the same Eureka voter Rick Kuhnel interviewed by other local media and whether it is the same person listed in  including Betty Kuhnel's obituary. 

A middle initial D and an arrest with a middle name David. Online searches often do not have the most current address. You can check the information listed below and come to your own conclusions. 

EPD issued a press release on 9/25 at 12:02.

EPD Press Release:

On September 22, 2023 at approximately 11:20 p.m., The Eureka Police Department (EPD) received a call for Shots Fired from a residence in the 4000 block of Campton Road. The Reporting Party stated Richard Kuhnel (69 years old of Eureka) was yelling and firing multiple gunshots from the second story of the residence. 

EPD officers responded to the scene and made phone contact with Kuhnel. EPD requested the assistance of the Humboldt County Crisis Negotiations Team (CNT) as Kuhnel had barricaded himself in his attic and was refusing to leave the residence. EPD Detectives were summoned to the scene and authored an arrest warrant for Kuhnel and a search warrant for the residence. CNT members negotiated with Kuhnel until 7:00 a.m. on September 23, 2023, when he exited the residence and was taken into custody without incident.

The search warrant was executed on the residence. During the investigation it was discovered that Kuhnel had fired seventeen (17) rounds during this incident. The investigation revealed rounds were fired out of the residence through the second story windows as well as into the walls inside the residence. Detectives recovered evidence that included shell casings and the handgun used during the shooting. Additional firearms and ammunition were located and seized during the investigation.

Kuhnel was transported to St. Joseph Hospital for medical clearance, for a medical issue not related to the incident, and later booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for a violation of PC 246.3(a), Discharging a firearm in a gross and negligent manner. No one was injured during this incident.

The Eureka Police Department would like to thank the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, the CNT team members, and the Fortuna Police Department for their assistance with the peaceful resolution of this incident.

10/19: Arraignment scheduled for Kuhnel. He is charged with one count PC 246.3(a) discharge of firearm with gross negligence.