LUCERNE, Calif. – Sheriff's deputies have arrested two Mendocino County residents for their alleged part in a shooting that occurred early on Thursday morning in Lucerne.
Samantha Lee Rilla, 35, and Stephen Anthony Thomas, 36, both of Redwood Valley, were taken into custody not long after the incident, according to Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Brook said that at 12:38 a.m. Thursday deputies were dispatched to a residence in the 3600 block of Country Club Drive in Lucerne for a report of a shooting. Initial radio reports indicated the shooting occurred at Country Club Mobile Home Park.
While responding to the residence, Central Dispatch provided a description of the suspect vehicle. The suspects were reported to have left in a white pickup, traveling westbound on Highway 20 towards Ukiah, Brooks said.
Deputies located a white Dodge pickup matching the description near the intersection of Bartlett Springs Road and Highway 20 in Lucerne. Brooks said they conducted an enforcement stop of the vehicle on Highway 20, just west of Bartlett Springs Road.
Deputies contacted the driver, who was identified as Rilla, and her passenger, identified as Thomas. Brooks said both Rilla and Thomas were detained as additional deputies continued to the shooting location.
When deputies arrived at the residence they contacted the victim, who was bleeding from the left side of his head, Brooks said.
The victim reported that a male and a female – later identified as Thomas and Rilla, respectively – had shown up to his residence and started an argument. Brooks said Rilla told the victim that his girlfriend had planned to rob Thomas. The argument occurred at the top of the victim's stairs in the driveway.
The victim told Rilla and Thomas they needed to leave his residence. Thomas continued to yell at the victim’s girlfriend, who was standing in the doorway, Brooks said.
The victim punched Thomas in the face, knocking him backwards to the bottom of the stairs. The argument intensified and Thomas drew a handgun from the right side of his waistband. Brooks said Thomas then struck the victim twice in the head with the grip portion of the firearm, causing the laceration to the victim's head.
The argument continued and Thomas fired the handgun near the victim’s feet, striking his pants. Brooks said the bullet continued through the door and into the side of the residence. The victim said Rilla and Thomas then took off running to their nearby pickup and drove away.
The victim was able to provide detailed descriptions of Thomas, Rilla and the vehicle they were driving. He also was able to describe the handgun as having a silver-colored barrel and a black handle, Brooks said.
A deputy examined the victim’s injuries and found he was bleeding from the left side of his face and had bruising near his eye. Brooks said the deputy also noticed both pant legs had tears in them, which was consistent with the travel of a bullet across the material.
Northshore Fire Protection District personnel arrived on scene and provided medical attention to the victim and transported him to the hospital for additional medical treatment, Brooks said.
Deputies located a shell casing on the ground, close to the stairs, which was seized as evidence. Brooks said they also noticed a hole in the door and a hole in the side of the residence, which were in line with each other. The holes and entry points were consistent with a gunshot.
A witness identified Thomas as being the subject who fired the gun at the victim. The witness also identified Rilla as being the female who was with Thomas and initiated the argument, according to Brooks.
A search was conducted of the vehicle Rilla was driving. Deputies located a firearm and ammunition inside the vehicle, which was accessible to both Thomas and Rilla. After further investigation, Brooks said deputies discovered they are both convicted felons.
Thomas was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon, felon in possession of a firearm and being a felon in possession of ammunition. Rilla was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit a crime, being an accessory, felon in possession of a firearm and being a felon in possession of ammunition, Brooks said.
They were both transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked. Their booking sheets showed that bail for each was set at $100,000, and both remained in custody on Thursday afternoon.