News

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office has determined the Aug. 6 shooting of Brials McCutcheon to be a homicide, making it the county’s sixth of the year.

Detectives have been tight lipped about the shooting, which occurred at about 5:30 p.m. and left McCutcheon, 41, of Arcata, dying near a pickup truck on Crestview Drive, south of Eureka. Today, detectives served a search warrant on on McCutcheon’s vehicle, seizing “numerous items of evidence.” An autopsy in the case has been scheduled for Saturday.

According to the Humboldt County Coroner's Office, the county recorded 16 homicides in each of 2014 and 2015, with 23 of the 32 caused by gunshot wounds. Two of the six homicides recorded so far this year have been shooting deaths.

Detectives are asking for the public’s help and urge anyone with information about McCutcheon’s “location and possible associates prior to his murder” to call either detective Mark Peterson at 268-3663 or Sgt. Diana Freese at 268-3639.

See the full press release from the sheriff’s office copied below:

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office has determined the death of Brials McCutcheon to be a homicide. On 08-09-2016, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Detectives and Evidence Technicians served a Humboldt County Superior Court Search Warrant on the victim’s vehicle. Detectives are examining numerous items of evidence that were seized from inside of the vehicle. An autopsy has been scheduled for Saturday, 08-13-2016.

The Sheriff’s Office is requesting help from the public in solving this homicide. Please contact their office with information on Brials location and possible associates prior to his murder. Please contact Detective Peterson or Sergeant Freese at the below telephone numbers.


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On Saturday afternoon at approximately 1739 hours, Deputies from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office responded to an area on Crestview Drive in Eureka regarding the report of a suspicious circumstance.

On arrival, Deputies discovered that 41 year old Brials Nelson McCutcheon was in immediate need of medical attention. McCutcheon was transported by medical staff to a local hospital and was pronounced deceased by attending hospital staff.

McCutcheon’s family has been notified of his death and the investigation is ongoing. If anyone has information that may be pertinent to the investigation, please phone Detective Mark Peterson at 268-3663 or Detective Sergeant Diana Freese at 268-3639.