Officials: Bodhi Tree is 'person of interest' in last week's Eureka shooting

◼ Officials: Bodhi Tree is 'person of interest' in last week's Eureka shooting - Times-Standard

The Eureka Police Department has named double murder suspect Bodhi Tree, who was released from prison in April, as a “person of interest” in a shooting near Eureka High School last week.

EPD Detective Ron Harpham said the department has some evidence pointing to Tree as a suspect but officials are still trying to determine probable cause. “We are still chasing down some leads,” Harpham said.

Harpham declined to say what evidence was found, citing an open investigation. The 28-year-old suspect in Saturday's double homicide in Arcata pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to two counts of murder and the special circumstance enhancement of multiple deaths, which qualifies the case for the death penalty.

Eureka High school student Christina Schwarz, 18, and 27-year-old Alan “Sunshine” Marcet were fatally shot.

According to officials, Eureka native Rhett August, 24, was shot once in the upper abdomen after he stepped out into an alley near the 1900 block of J street in Eureka to answer a knock at the door.

Harpham said the person the department originally suspected in the shooting has now been cleared.
Humboldt County Chief Probation Officer Bill Damiano confirmed Tree was released from state prison at the beginning of April under post-release community supervision, a program enacted under California prison realignment.

”He would have been released either way, either on parole or through realignment,” Damiano said.

◼ Police Looking at Bodhi Tree as a ‘Person of Interest’ in Eureka Shooting Last Week - Hank Sims/Lost Coast Outpost