The identity of the man shot by Arcata Police officers on May 17 has been released. Joshua Adelynia Hoffman, 26, of San Diego, was shot four times in the Shell gas station at 14th and G streets.
APD also identified the two officers involved in the incident: Matthew O’Donovan deployed his taser and Don Arminio discharged his firearm, according to a press release. They have been put on administrative leave per standard protocol.
Arminio opened fire, according to APD, as Hoffman charged him wielding a metal cane while ignoring numerous orders from the officers. Neither officer was injured during the incident.
According to his Facebook page, Hoffman grew up in Southern California, where he worked as a lifeguard and for a stint at Costco. He graduated from Canyon Crest Academy — a sought-after public school near San Diego that offers specialized education in arts, science and technology — before moving to Eureka in 2013. The site lists Hoffman’s current city of residence as Garberville.
The Facebook page hints strongly that Hoffman is interested in outdoor recreation and travelling, as there are a host of pictures of him hiking and boating, and he mentions trips Barbados, Canada, Puerto Rico and elsewhere. Posts on the page also paint the picture of a 26-year-old Bernie Sanders supporter who’s drawn to religion, self improvement and a few fringe conspiracy theories.
He remains in critical but stable condition.
From the Arcata Police Department:
On May 17, 2016 two police officers from the Arcata Police Department were involved in an incident that resulted in the shooting of 26-year-old Joshua Adelynia Hoffman of San Diego. Mr. Hoffman sustained four gunshot wounds. He is currently in critical but stable condition at a local hospital.
Arcata Police Officer Matthew O’Donovan, hired by APD in 2012 discharged his taser during the incident and Arcata Police Officer Don Arminio, hired by APD in 2008 discharged his firearm during the incident.
As is standard protocol, both police officers have been placed on administrative leave.
The shooting remains under investigation by the Humboldt County Critical Incident Response Team.
Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact the Arcata Police Department at 822-2428.
This article appears in The Defender.
In hard times people lacking the psychological fortitude to be police officers are signing up for the living wage and generous pension. They are killing civilians in large numbers that are often mentally unstable or on hallucinogens.
There are many amateur videos of how actual professionals handle similar situations without the rush to kill.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cX5CPx4RKW…
Don Arminio of the Arcata Police Department is a violent bully. Doesn’t surprise me that he’d shoot someone, and not in any way justifiable, not defending ANYONE. I hope Joshua pulls through! The cops need to stop terrorizing and stealing lives. They are cowards, creeps, and bullies. #FireDonArminio #FTP
I went to school with Josh at Canyon Crest Academy and lived with him in the Greater Los Angeles area. I don’t know anything about this PD or this area but I do know to things about Josh.
1) He was probably drunk/high
BUT
2) There is no way in hell that Josh lunged at the police officers. He has never,ever been a violent guy. He was a spiritual free hippy type- geez he surfed most of the week.
He may have not been taking orders but that doesn’t mean he should have been shot four times. Police are too trigger happy.
Let everything play out. Dont make snap judgments one way or the other. Police do what police do, “Hippies” do what they do.
“Can’t we all just get along”(R. King…1997, Semi Valley, Cal.)
Notorious Thug