THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Authorities are investigating an apparent homicide that took place in downtown Lakeport late Friday night.

The incident was first reported as an assault victim with a gunshot wound at 9:18 p.m., the Lakeport Police Department said in a statement released shortly after 3 a.m. Saturday.

Lakeport Police officers were dispatched to Library Park, where they arrived at 9:20 p.m., according to the report.

Upon their arrival at the scene, officers located an unconscious adult male victim that had been struck by gunfire.

The shooting victim was found near the seawall closest to the park’s gazebo, based on radio reports.

A request was made over the air for an air ambulance but it was reported that REACH was grounded due to weather.

Lakeport Police officers and firefighters with the Lakeport Fire Protection District performed life saving measures on the victim, however, the victim was pronounced deceased at the scene just after 9:30 p.m.

Officers blocked off an area around Library Park that included the intersection of First and Park streets shortly after the victim died, radio reports indicated.

Meantime, the suspect was reported to have fled north toward Xabatin Park.

Additional Lakeport Police officers, Lake County Sheriff’s deputies and California Highway Patrol officers were summoned to the scene to assist with the investigation and search for the suspect responsible for the shooting, the Lakeport Police Department said.

Officers went to Xabatin Park as well as a nearby bar where a fight had been reported shortly before the shooting, according to radio reports.

The Lakeport Police statement on the incident said information from witnesses indicated this was not a random act and that the victim and suspects were previously known by each other.

The investigation is still ongoing, police said.

Police said the name of the victim is not being released pending notification to next of kin.

If you have any information regarding this incident, please contact Det. Juan Altamirano at 707-263-5491 EXT 102 or e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. you can also message our agency on Facebook.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, and on Bluesky, @erlarson.bsky.social. Find Lake County News on the following platforms: Facebook, @LakeCoNews; X, @LakeCoNews; Threads, @lakeconews, and on Bluesky, @lakeconews.bsky.social.