LUCERNE — A man and a woman were arrested after being linked to an alleged shooting just after 12:30 a.m. Wednesday in the area of Country Club Drive.
Samantha Lee Rilla and Stephen Anthony Thomas, both of Redwood Valley, were arrested after they allegedly fled a residence in the 3600 block of Country Club Drive where a shooting was reported and a person was injured in the head after an alleged physical confrontation, according to Lake County Sheriff”s Office (LCSO) Lt. Steve Brooks.
LCSO deputies located Rilla, 35, and Thomas, 36, after identifying the truck the allegedly fled in, a Dodge pickup, near the intersection of Bartlett Springs Road and Highway 20 in Lucerne.
Both were detained as additional deputies continued to the residence.
When deputies arrived at the residence they contacted the injured man, who was bleeding from the left side of his head, Brooks stated. The man reported that another man and a woman, who were later identified as Thomas and Rilla, had shown up to his residence and started an argument.
The incident occurred when Rilla reportedly told the resident that his girlfriend had planned to rob Thomas, Brooks stated. The argument took place at the top of the stairs in the driveway when the resident told Rilla and Thomas to leave his residence. Thomas allegedly continued to yell at the resident”s girlfriend, who was standing in the doorway.
The resident reportedly punched Thomas in the face, knocking him backward to the bottom of the stairs, according to Brooks. The argument intensified and Thomas allegedly drew a handgun from the right side of his waistband and struck the resident twice in the head with the grip portion of the firearm, causing a laceration to his head.
The argument continued and Thomas allegedly fired the handgun near the victim”s feet, striking his pants, Brooks stated. The bullet continued through the door and into the side of the residence.
According to Brooks, the resident said Rilla and Thomas took off running to their nearby pickup and drove away.
The victim was able to provide detailed descriptions of Thomas, Rilla, and the vehicle they were driving, Brooks stated. He was also able to describe the handgun allegedly used as having a silver color barrel and a black handle.
A deputy examined the victim”s injuries and said he was bleeding from the left side of his face and had bruising near his eye, Brooks stated. The deputy also noticed both pant legs had a tear in them, which was consistent with the travel of a bullet across the material.
Medical personnel arrived on scene and provided medical attention to the victim and transported him to the hospital for additional medical treatment, according to Brooks.
Deputies located a shell casing on the ground, close to the stairs, which was seized as evidence. They also noticed a hole in the door and a hole in the side of the residence, which were inline with each other. The holes and entry points were consistent with a gunshot.
A witness identified Thomas as being the subject who fired the gun at the victim, Brooks stated. The witness also identified Rilla as being the female who was with Thomas and initiated the argument.
Deputies found a firearm and ammunition inside the vehicle Rilla was driving, Brooks stated. The firearm was accessible to both Thomas and Rilla. After further investigation, deputies discovered they were both convicted felons.
Thomas was arrested on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, felon in possession of a firearm and being a felon in possession of ammunition.
Rilla was charged with assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit a crime, being an accessory, felon in possession of a firearm and being a felon in possession of ammunition.
Rilla and Thomas were booked at the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility with a bail of $100,000 each.
