Clearlake >> Officers arrested a man believed to be involved in a drive-by shooting on Wednesday.
Law enforcement investigators say it appears that 24-year-old Dustin Kirk-Dillard was shooting toward a specific person at a home on the 3600 block of Oleander Street. No one was injured, and the motive remain unknown by officers. The intended shooting victim is not cooperating with the investigation, according to Clearlake Police Department (CPD) Sgt. Rodd Joseph.
Officers arrived at the scene of the shooting after a report of shots fired at about 1:44 p.m. The caller told authorities of hearing three to four gun shots and seeing a red Honda CRX speed away, Joseph stated. With tips from the caller, officers were able to locate a vehicle similar to the description at a residence in the 3500 block of Toyon Street and reportedly saw a person run into an exterior room on the south side of the home.
The vehicle, a Honda Civic, was hot to the touch as if its engine had just been running, Joseph stated. As officers began approaching this exterior room, Kirk-Dillard exited. Two other men were in the room, including 28 year-old Nice resident Lawrence Amaral and the resident of the property.
Kirk-Dillard denied being involved in a shooting, but was in possession of paperwork from the red Honda Civic. During the investigation it was determined that Amaral and the other man were inside this exterior room together when Kirk-Dillard ran inside and tossed a small caliber handgun onto a bed, Joseph stated. Both Amaral and the resident allegedly know Kirk-Dillard. The resident gave officers consent to search and they seized the handgun along with two empty magazines and one partially loaded magazine containing live ammunition.
Officers also searched the Honda Civic and discovered several spent shell casings matching the brand and caliber to the handgun and live ammunition found inside the room, Joseph stated.
Kirk-Dillard was charged with several felony violations to include, felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of ammunition, illegal discharge of a firearm with negligence, assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony crime, driver shoot from a vehicle and shooting at persons from a vehicle.
Amaral, who is not believed to be involved in the shooting, was found to have several misdemeanor and felony warrants out of Lake County and Mendocino County. Both Amaral and Kirk-Dillard were later booked into the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility.
Anyone with information on this crime is asked to contact officer Elvis Cook at 707-994-8251 ext. 508. Callers may remain anonymous.
