LAKE COUNTY — Lake County Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard F. Hinchcliff filed a rejection form on Monday after reviewing a case of a man shot and killed after crashing into a house.
On July 3 at approximately 2 a.m. James Mitchell, 67, was asleep in his home in the 14200 block of Olympic Drive in Clearlake, when a vehicle drove into the front of his home. A 1994 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck driven by Kevin Quinn, 51, drove almost completely into the residence.
Mitchell armed himself with a handgun and went to the area of his home where he heard the crash. Once Mitchell went into the room the vehicle drove into, he was confronted by Quinn who exited the vehicle.
Quinn advanced toward Mitchell in an allegedly threatening manner while making threats to kill him, according to the Clearlake Police Department (CPD).
Mitchell was reported to have retreated from the room and attempted to run from his home.
CPD stated that as Mitchell was trying to exit the house Quinn caught up to him. Mitchell fired his handgun at Quinn and struck him multiple times. Mitchell reportedly went outside the residence to notify police.
CPD officer Travis Lenz who was on patrol observed Quinn walking out to Olympic Drive while holding a handgun and contacted him. At this time Lenz was unaware of the shooting or the crash as a Clearlake Police dispatcher was currently on the phone with a person who was reporting hearing a possible vehicle crash and gunshots in the area. CPD Sergeant Tim Celli and Officer Ryan Peterson arrived at the scene within one minute and they located Quinn inside the residence suffering from life threatening injuries from what appeared to be gunshot wounds.
According to Hinchcliff, an investigation revealed Quinn had a history of mental health issues and had threatened to harm Mitchell prior to the shooting. Hinchcliff stated that Mitchell was clearly in legitimate fear for his safety and clearly believed he would suffer death or serious bodily harm if he did not shoot the victim. Mitchell was clearly acting in self-defense and used reasonable force under the circumstances in defending himself. Hinchcliff also stated that there was a significant age and size difference between Mitchell and Quinn. Mitchell was 67 years old and weighed 195 pounds and Quinn was 51 years old and weighed 235 pounds at the time of the incident. Quinn had a prior history of violence and Mitchell was aware of Quinn”s history of violence at the time of the shooting.
Because this was a homicide case, CPD conducted a thorough and extensive investigation and forwarded it to the District Attorney”s office to review to determine whether charges should be pursued against Mitchell.
