Clearlake >> A family dispute turned fatal when a man was shot in the chest and succumbed to his injuries Wednesday night.
Stephen Wooldridge, 33, died at St. Helena Hospital, Clear Lake as first responders were preparing to fly him to an out-of-county trauma center, Clearlake Police Chief Lt. Tim Celli said in a press statement.
Investigators have identified the shooter but have not made an arrest as it appears the suspect may have fired his weapon in self defense.
Wooldridge allegedly showed up to his mother’s house yelling and banging on the door demanding entry into the home, Celli said. He was reportedly upset after his mother stopped answering his calls.
Witnesses told detectives that the two were having issues; they apparently were in a dispute earlier in the day, then argued over the phone that evening.
When the shooting victim’s mother stopped answering his phone calls, Wooldridge allegedly became further upset and went to her home in the 16200 block of 36th Avenue in Clearlake.
His mother refused to let him inside, but Wooldridge managed to force his way in through the garage door. Witnesses told police he was met by the mother’s boyfriend, Johnny Stevenson, who armed himself with a .22-caliber rifle.
According to reports, Wooldridge refused to leave or back down, threatened to physically assault Stevenson, 82, and even challenged him to shoot.
Wooldridge approached Stevenson in a threatening manner, Celli reported. Stevenson claims to have cocked the gun as a warning before firing and shooting Wooldridge once in the chest.
Clearlake police officers arrived on scene two minutes after the report came in at about 11:17 p.m., Celli said. Wooldridge was still conscious, alert and breathing when they arrived. Medical personnel responded and immediately began treating Wooldridge, before transporting him to St. Helena Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
Several family members and friends were also at the house and provided witness statements during the preliminary investigation in addition to Stevenson’s account.
After conferring with the Lake County District Attorney’s Office it was decided that Stevenson would not be booked into county jail for the shooting death of Wooldridge at this time, Celli said. However, the investigation remains ongoing. Once it is complete, it will be forwarded to the Lake County District Attorney’s Office for further review.
