Capt. Kurt Smallcomb said the incident was reported to the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office via a cell phone call at 5:40 a.m. Thursday.
He said 22-year-old Covelo resident Joey Long called the agency stating that someone had forcibly entered his residence and he had shot them.
Mendocino County Sheriffs deputies and medical personnel responded to Long's residence. They found the dead man lying just outside a broken sliding glass door. Smallcomb said evidence showed the man had been stricken with a single gunshot injury to his upper chest.
Long advised deputies and detectives, that he had been asleep in bed with his wife and young child when he heard his sliding glass window break inside the residence. He got a 357-caliber handgun when he observed two suspects inside his residence, according to Smallcomb.
Long said he observed one of the suspects holding something in his handm which he believed was a possible weapon. At that time Long fired several rounds from his handgun until it was empty. He then retrieved a second handgun from the closet and fired two more rounds towards the suspects, Smallcomb said.
One of the suspects fell to the ground just outside the broken sliding glass door and a second suspect ran from the residence, got into a white Chevy Cobalt-type sedan then fled the scene, Smallcomb reported. Long then contacted 911 via his cellular telephone and summoned assistance.
Detectives learned that Long had approximately 100 pounds of processed marijuana inside and around the residence property. Smallcomb said it appeared that the suspects were attempting to steal Long's marijuana.
Smallcomb said detectives are continuing the investigation and attempting to positively identify the decedent so they can contact his next of kin. Once his family is notified, law enforcement can release his name to the public.
A forensic autopsy will be conducted on Friday, Smallcomb said.
He added that Mendocino County Sheriff’s detectives will eventually forward the case to the district attorney for review.
Anyone with information in regards to this incident is encouraged to contact the Mendocino County Sheriffs Office at 707-467-9159. Callers can remain anonymous.
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