UPDATED LINK: ◼ Shootout
The survivor is a 19-year-old male from Antioch. Note below that both suspects sustained gunshot wounds to the head, but the press release states that neither the chp nor the Sheriff’s Deputies fired their weapons.
◼ JN Update: Yes, It Was Weed
◼ JN Dead Suspect Was Local
The man who died in last night’s strange weedjack-turned-police chase — see here and here — was a local, reports acting coroner Frank Jager. He was 21-year-old David Fields, whose city of residence is unavailable at this time. He was definitely from Humboldt County, though.
◼ TS Chase leaves one dead, another injured
A high speed chase on State Route 299 left one suspect dead and another in the hospital Monday night, after the suspects fired shots at law enforcement during a 30-mile pursuit that ended just east of Willow Creek, according to the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office.
Shortly before 11 p.m., the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office received a report of shots fired near School and Anderson roads in McKinleyville, according to a press release. The reporting party said the suspects were driving a gold Jeep Grand Cherokee and had fired several shots from an AK-47 assault rifle.
The suspects had reportedly been making a marijuana deal at the intersection when one of the them went to the Jeep and returned with an AK-47. The second buyer allegedly produced a handgun. One of the suspects then ordered everyone to the ground in the middle of the street, took approximately 14 pounds of marijuana and left. As they drove away they fired several shots from the vehicle.
◼ TS High speed chase after reported marijuana deal goes bad
Updated version of yesterday's breaking news story
shortly before 11 p.m., eight people met in the intersection of School Road and Anderson Avenue -- a residential neighborhood in McKinleyville.
Godsey said six of those people had arranged to sell 14 pounds of marijuana to the two men.
At some point during the meeting, Godsey said one of the buyers walked to the Jeep and returned carrying an assault rifle. The second buyer then reportedly took out a hand gun, and the two men ordered the group of six to lie on the street while they took the marijuana.
As the two suspects drove away, they reportedly fired several shots from their vehicle. None of the sellers were injured in the incident.
◼ HCSO Press Release Shots Fired at Deputies
◼ HCSO Press Release Shots Fired at Sheriff's Deputies - Update
Quite a story - a drug deal gone bad - weapons, shootings, body armor, a chase, a spike strip, a crash, 2 with bullet wounds to the head, 1 dead.
Started right down near Ken Miller's neighborhood. Hitting a bit too close to home, no doubt. Fair enough, live with what you have wrought. Thank you Dr. Miller.
How many shootings, how many killings in the last few months?
UPDATE:
◼ Surviving suspect from police chase identified
A 19-year-old man from Antioch who survived an apparent self-inflicted gunshot to the head was arrested at a Sacramento hospital Monday for his alleged involvement in an armed marijuana robbery May 11 that ended with the death of his apparent associate David Fields.
Brian Cole Fiore was arrested at 5:15 p.m. Monday and booked into the Sacramento County Jail on suspicion of attempted murder, robbery, negligent discharge of a firearm and evading a peace officer with wanton disregard for safety, the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office reported.
According to HCSO information, Fiore will be transported to the Humboldt County jail, but it is uncertain when.
Following an autopsy conducted over the weekend, investigators believe Fields, 21, was shot shortly before the vehicle he was riding in flipped over an embankment along the roadside, and rolled to a stop 130 feet down into the ravine below.
Investigators know Field's death was caused by a gunshot wound, said Deputy Coroner Charlie VanBuskirk, but are uncertain whether death was a homicide, a suicide or an accident.
Fields' mother, Shirley Stephens, identified her son's body at the Humboldt County Coroner's Office the day after the shooting. Fields, who was right-handed, was shot in the left temple, she said....
UPDATES:
Brian Cole Fiore was convicted of the Murder of David Fields, Attempted Murder of CHP Officer Michael Noland, and Attempted Murder of CHP Officer Eric Nelson. The jury deliberated for 7 days before reaching their verdicts which were delivered today. Mr. Fiore faces 3 consecutive life terms in prison. The jury also convicted Fiore of six additional felony counts including two counts of Robbery, Transportation of Marijuana, Transportation of an Assault Weapon and Shooting into an Occupied Vehicle, and Felony Evading of Arrest.◼ Murder trial from '09 car chase heats up; Fiore takes the stand in his own defense Thursday - Megan Hansen/The Times-Standard 5/04/2012
The jury was unable to reach verdicts on 3 other Attempted Murder counts, as to pursuing Sheriff’s Deputies, as well as a Burglary count, and a count of Resisting an Executive Officer.
“It was a sad case, because a young man was killed and another young man will likely spend the rest of his life in prison” said Allan L. Dollison the Deputy District Attorney who prosecuted the case. “However, when you come to our community and bring this type of horrific violence, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law” Dollison also said.
Fiore, 22, took the stand in his own defense Thursday in a trial that's been ongoing since April 9. He is standing trial on charges of murder, armed robbery, felony evasion of a peace officer, transporting marijuana, illegally possessing an assault weapon and the attempted murder of five peace officers.◼ Body Armor, Guns and Life Imprisonment - May 30, 2012
Officials allege Fiore and Fields robbed three men of about 14 pounds of marijuana at gunpoint in McKinleyville on May 11, 2009, and proceeded to lead police on a 20-mile high-speed chase on State Route 299. The chase ended when Fiore's Jeep Grand Cherokee went over a spike strip and rolled down an embankment. Both men were found with gunshot wounds to the head, and Fields was pronounced dead at the crash site.
Deputy District Attorney Allan Dollison has alleged Fiore shot Fields and then himself in an attempted murder-suicide as his Jeep went over the embankment. He said law enforcement officials believe Fields brandished an AK-47 and Fiore used a .45-caliber pistol in the alleged robbery and subsequent car chase, in which shots were fired at law enforcement.
◼ Route 299 murder suspect set for trial in August; case likely to lean heavily on evidence gathered from getaway car - Times-Standard
◼ Humboldt jury finds Fiore guilty of murder; verdict concludes '09 bullet-ridden, high-speed chase case - Megan Hansen/The Times-Standard 5/31/2012
Prosecuting Deputy District Attorney Allan Dollison argued during the trial that Fiore knew of the impending marijuana robbery, wielded a gun, shot at pursuing law enforcement vehicles and shot Fields with a .45-caliber pistol before shooting himself in the chin in an attempted suicide.◼ Route 299 murder suspect set for trial in August; case likely to lean heavily on evidence gathered from getaway car - John Driscoll/The Times-Standard
This was no plea deal.
New work for the new coroner. Starting off with bang.
ReplyDeleteFunny title
ReplyDeleteWhere's the part about body armor and using a spike strip in the Sheriff's press release?
ReplyDeleteIt does seem odd no one is "fessing up" to shooting those two fellows.
My guess is the cops shot them.
I'm glad someone did. I've been in Mack Town for many years now, and it really irrates me to see these gangbangers from down south coming up here for drug deals.
Burn another fattie and pass the ammo.Will wonders never cease? Stancliff actually writes something like an adult that is reasonable. Watch out,you'll loose some of your whacko-lib creds if you keep this up.
ReplyDeleteBlame this tragedy on Ken Miller. Ha!
ReplyDeleteMr. Stancliff, thank you for embodying the hopeless cretinism of your kind, which abounds in the swirling cesspool of mediocrity that is labeled "Humboldt" as a caution to the unwary. You "guess" the cops shot them. Fine. Regale us with your intuitive reasoning, and
ReplyDeletehelp us understand by what process
you arrive at this "guess".
Former shootings by HCSO?
Firearms identification?
Dave, the body armor (bullet-proof vests) are in the TS story, where they describe the guy who climbed, dripping blood, up the embankment. The spike strips are in that same story.
ReplyDeleteReportedly, law enforcement did not fire a single shot.
These guys shot themselves in the head. God knows why.
Where is the outrage? There were shots fired in a residential neighborhood where alot of kids live. Think about the other drivers whose lives were put in danger by these creeps. Where's your outrage? Where's your concern for the officers who risk their lives for YOU? During the Cheri Moore and Chris Burgess aftermath, many tried to point out that LEOs are at risk every single day - this is a CLEAR demonstration of that fact. And yet - crickets.
Where are the candlelight vigils? Where are the demands from Bonnie Blackberry for reform and action?
Rose, Rose, Rose, vigils? outrage? Drum circles? (ok I made that one up) see above, "swirling cesspool of mediocrity".
ReplyDeleteEh. What am I thinking? the outrage is reserved for scum-sucking criminals when it can be used as a political weapon. Ken Miller and Richard Salzman should rot in hell for what they have done to this community.
ReplyDeleteNope - gotta disagree with you here Rose. Miller and Salzman should not rot in hell for what they have done to this community. Hell is too good for them given what they have done. Maybe a long prison term somewhere with a roommate called bubba.
ReplyDeleteOk, let em rot in hell, but please someone drive them out of Humboldt first.
There’s not alot of room on the side of the road at Anderson and School - did the transaction happen deeper down on Anderson? It’s really a pretty busy street and a pretty visible location, even at that hour.
ReplyDeleteWho are the sellers? Are they in custody? Where is the growhouse? is it in that neighborhood? Somewhere in McKinleyville? Or from out of town? Were there really six sellers at the scene? How old were they and where were they from? How much were they planning to make off this deal? Who are they? Our friends and neighbors? Parents of our children’s friends?
Were the guys with guns college students? Out-of-towners? Did they come planning to rip the sellers off (why else the bullet-proof vests and weapons?)?
We all need answers and a deeper understanding of where it is coming from and how all this goes down, because if it is isn’t stopped, next time some innocent driver or nearby resident may get caught in the crossfire.
Wow, rot in hell for those guys? We can only imagine where you'll be headed with that nonsense...
ReplyDeleteWhat "kind" am I oh wise person who is too chickenshit to give your name?
ReplyDeleteI was just guessing. Seemed to me if they were reports of firing at the cops there was a good chance the cops shot back That's a fair guess. If someone shot at me I would shoot back.
When you come down from the high place you're ranting from, try taking a deep breath and exhaling.
Now isn't that better?
No need to call names and say childish things.
If you and I were in a room together would you speak to me like that?
Would you say the same things to my face?
You don't even have to answer. I already know the answer. You talk big behind a cloak of being anonymous.
"Whacko-lib creds" eh?
ReplyDeleteGee, that hurts.
But I guess it's better having some creds rather than none at all like you Mr/Ms Anonymous.
You're cred level is in your head, along with a lot of anger. Try wearing looser underwear and maybe it'll be easier to smile.
Dave: better watch it with anon @ 8:32 a.m.. I know who it is by the writing and you are a nice enough dude, but way out of your league with that poster. Way out.
ReplyDeleteYou asked the following: "If you and I were in a room together would you speak to me like that?
Would you say the same things to my face?" Well Dave, there is NO doubt in my mind who this poster is and the answer is YES, he would tell you to your face the same thing in the same manner. He would also back it up with so many facts and so much information that you would be stunned into utter silence.
Perhaps you might take your own advice and pause before typing out what seems to be a tantrum in response. Last time I checked "you're" should really have been typed "your." Maybe you should try wearing looser underwear too. Just a thought.
Maybe all this pent up hostility comes from having to sell your home, move and get a different job because marijuana has changed this county for worst. Just a thought there Dave, just a thought.
TYPO ALERT - PLEASE CHANGE "Worst" and insert "Worse!"
ReplyDeleteWow!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous warns me that another anonymous who is so smart/special that I better watch what I say.
Anon #1 even says I'm a nice-enough guy. Do you think you know me Anon#1? It's obvious you don't by that last paragraph.
I know you and your anon buddy. There's a word for your likes. Troll. You had me going (which I should have realized was the point all along). Trolls are cowards. Think karma.
Dave, Dave, Dave! Not everyone with an opinion and a snarky remark is a troll. Yes - I agree the level of discourse out to be a bit higher, but 'troll' is a much overused phrase.
ReplyDeleteIf you're gonna be on the blogs, you have to be able to ignore the BS. Just continue with your points.
Hi Dave, its me, anon 1 again.
ReplyDeleteMy reasons for not using my name are simple. In the ghastly lib/prog community where I labor, I could lose my job if my private opinions were known.
So there's that. You accused officers of lying and of shooting injured men in the head. You have no facts to back that up. You know you will never have to back that up. So who's the cowardly troll? Would you drop by the Sheriff's office and in person to their faces tell them you think they shot these guys and then lied about it? Go to it.
If you think you can rebut rational criticism by attacking the anon nature of the poster, fine. You might recall that some fairly acclaimed minds- Madison, Jefferson, Hamilton, Franklin, "posted" anonymously throughout their careers. So, setting aside my cowardly verminous nature and
sniveling need to keep my job, how about you go back and explain why you slandered the officers.
Or did you just think it was funny to say that? Maybe you even thought it was praise, since you are "glad" someone shot these guys, who appear to be homegrown, and not from "down south". ( See swirling cesspool, above).
Okay Anon #1...let's get a few things straight.
ReplyDeleteI did not accuse police officers of shooting those two criminal;s in the head. I don't know where you got that, but it's wrong.
I have a son in law enforcement, which should tell you that I don't hate cops, like you seem to insinuate.
It's too bad you have to hide because your afraid of losing your job over an opinion.
I can't help wondering what it is that you do where you have to keep your opinions to yourself.
I'll take back the troll thing after your explanation of why you hide behind an aka.
Just don't assume I hate cops. My comment was just a thought. Nothing more than that. I explained that to you in the prior post. What part didn't you understand?
Rose...
ReplyDeleteyou are right. I shouldn't let these anon posters get through to me.
I just have a problem, at times, with someone who calls me names and makes stupid accusations behind an aka.
I'm old school and believe in knowing whom I'm talking too. The transformation of unknown people on the web attacking whatever you say is still a hard one for me.
In my world, if a person is afraid to stand up for what they believe by hiding behind an aka...then I have no respect for them. Period.
You can come up with a million reasons why it's okay to post fake names, but they are not going to change my beliefs. What kind of job does a person have in America today that they stand to get fired for expressing their opinions? First Amendment rights are in place to protect your freedom of speech.
I admit, that when someone makes a stupid accusation and goes off in a rant, I tend to think their trolls.
Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference.
The bottom line...I've got to work on ignoring senseless attacks and stay on point as you suggest.
Thanks
What kind of job?
ReplyDeleteWell,for starters, there's the Humboldt County DA's office, if you are a deputy DA.
Wake up and smell the bud. And if
you haven't figured out that cavalier comments about cops shooting people are not funny in Humboldt, you should try that line
down at the EPD station.
Am I supposed to feel sorry for you because your paranoid? If your ranting is an example of what's going on inside the DA's office, then God help us all!
ReplyDeleteYou should know that you are coming on like a rabid jackal about what you term "a cavalier comment."
There's no use trying to explain my comment to you, because you are locked into a defensive position from your bunker.
Quit trying to take the high road in your rant about cops. I have no problem with them. Never have. Like I said I have a son in law enforcement and I respect those that do put their ass on-the-line everyday.
So give up on that argument. It has no merit.
What I should do is go down to the EPD station and tell them some nut (who may work there or in the DA's office)is giving law enforcement a bad name by ranting like an idiot on the internet. They might be interested in someone who has something to hide. You never know.
I offered you an olive branch, but you refused.
Dave, Dave, Dave, told you not to poke anon1
ReplyDeletehugs and kisses,
Anon2
Dave, You and I use our names. That's actually rare on the internet. I will say that it affects how you conduct yourself (an I mean the collective you, not you) - people in general are more responsible, more reasonable and more respectful when their name is attached to their comments. Even a pseudonym makes a difference.
ReplyDeleteBut unless you want to restrict and limit all participation to those who use their names, you're stuck with the anons.
And, in defense of the anons, I find many of them to be wonderful amazing, intelligent, well-informed people who I would welcome meeting in real life.
I'm not willing to throw the baby out with the bathwater.
You've made your point - very clearly - and you ought to, as a local player in the news biz, understand why people are touchy about the online hate cops campaign.
We all saw the Cheri Moore and Christopher Burgess incidents get politicized and all manner of hate spewing all over - letters to the editor, etc.
Here, the cops risked their lives - and there ought to be alot of recognition for the good work they do on our behalf every single day.
Olive branches, opinions, judgments on merit? Let's see, you clearly know nothing about what it is like to work at the DA's office, but you throw terms like "ranting" "nut" and "paranoia" around as though you do. Kind of devalues your input. And please note, "God help us all" is no substitute for actual analysis, much less knowledge. Kind of mediocre, tho' so full Humboldt props for representing.
ReplyDeleteThat's just it Rose.
ReplyDeleteI do understand what's happened (and is happening)as far as the back-and- forth battle between law enforcement and those who attack it for whatever purposes.
I've always avoided that subject (in my columns) because there's very little I can say that will change either sides view.
I guess I'm just surprised at the savagery/paranoia of Anon #1s comments. He/she leaped on one sentence and managed to twist it into me being a cop hater. That's not very rational.
Then another Anon warns me I better watch out for prodding Anon#1! What's with that?
I respect your position on Anons Rose.
I think I'm done with this thread as I don't want to go back and forth with someone whose obviously not very rational and is also pissed off at life!
Jeez Dave, you gotta lighten up.
ReplyDeleteYou wrote: "Then another Anon warns me I better watch out for prodding Anon#1! What's with that?"
Let me tell you what's with that. That was because I anticipated both of you getting into it on line. And you not even knowing that Anon1 really knew what he was talking about first hand. And me laughing my ass off over it as you got your feelings hurt. I have a lot of friends who have left this county over the last couple of years because it has gone to hell. They are resentful that in order to protect their families and their livelihoods that they had to sell their homes, relocate and re-job. Sort of dimishes that "hold back" attitude and lets one really share what is on his mind.
You know I check that Heraldo blog occasionally and the criticism on this site is NOTHING like compared to the hateful stuff there. Take my word for it, if this hurts your feelings, don't go there or you will experience a total meltdown.
Just a thought.
New Coroner will not be handling this at least until he starts his job on May 24.
ReplyDeleteI am still wondering why the 6 that were "selling" have not been arrested. Maybe because they didn't actually get to "sell" before they were robbed? What about possessing 14 pounds? They started the dangerous situation that was carried out on the McKinleyville Street corner so not even a slap on the wrist?
The guys that drove off the road and may have shot themselves may not be pot heads as it sounds like they were on something else to be so crazy. Speed freeks?
Just like a light weight (lib)Dave you can talk the whack-o party line but you cry just like a little girl when no one cares. Go write another typically predictable progressive rant.
ReplyDelete7:28 said: "I am still wondering why the 6 that were "selling" have not been arrested. Maybe because they didn't actually get to "sell" before they were robbed? What about possessing 14 pounds?"
ReplyDelete14 pounds divided between 6 growers equals less than 3 lbs each. prop 215 states that a cardholder can have upto 3 lbs processed. that is why there will be no arrests made.
they would have to have 6 current and valid 215 cards AND IT IS STILL ILLEGAL TO SELL IT EVEN WITH A 215 CARD.
ReplyDeleteBook em Danno.
they gave the weed away for free. there was no money exchanged.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 11:38 am. Selling or giving the marijuana away the crime is the same; Health and Safety Code Section 11360.
ReplyDeleteJust because the robbers didn't pay doesn't mean the crime didn't occur. Not to mention Conspiracy !
Is it possible to charge the six pot sellers, along with the surviving robber, with murder under the felony murder rule ?
Something like if multiple people are engaged in an inherantly dangerous crime, and someone dies as a result of that crime, they can all be charged with murder. Sounds OK to me.
In Humboldt they'd just get the charges reduced to misdoemaners and get probation with credit for time served!