The United States’ Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a lower court ruling finding Arcata police had probable cause to arrest Kyle Zoellner on suspicion of murdering David Josiah Lawson, rejecting Zoellner’s claim for damages against the city. The unanimous ruling filed Tuesday rejects all five of Zoellner’s legal arguments, upholding the October 2022 […]
David Josiah Lawson
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Justice for Josiah Vigil
Charmaine Lawson spoke Friday at a courthouse candlelight vigil, continuing her call for justice five years after the still unsolved fatal stabbing of her son, David Josiah Lawson, at a house party in Arcata. On the same day, the Arcata Police Department once again put out the call for witnesses to come forward, stating that […]
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Vigil Today to Mark Fifth Anniversary of Josiah Lawson’s Killing, Arcata Police Renew Call for Witnesses to Come Forward
Today, on the fifth anniversary of the still unsolved killing of David Josiah Lawson, his mother is holding a 4 p.m. candlelight vigil at the courthouse to call for justice for her son and the Arcata Police Department is once again putting out the call for witnesses to come forward. “It is paramount that witnesses […]
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Charmaine Lawson: Settlement ‘Blood Money’ Means ‘Nothing,’ Focus is on Justice
Charmaine Lawson still hasn’t cashed the $200,000 check that came as a part of her settlement agreement with the city of Arcata. She says it took her four days to even open the envelope it was mailed in and it has now sat for weeks atop her son’s urn. Filed in November of 2018, the […]
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Weekend Events Honor David Josiah Lawson
Two events are happening this Saturday, April 17, honoring the life of David Josiah Lawson. The 4Years-4Miles J4J Walk and second annual Coat Drive starts with a run/walk/skateboard/stroll at noon at Arcata City Hall that then heads to the Humboldt Bay Trail and Arcata Marsh and ends up at the Arcata Plaza around 2:30 p.m. for a […]
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APD Renews Call for Witnesses as Fourth Anniversary of Lawson’s Death Approaches
As the fourth anniversary of his death approaches, the Arcata Police Department is once again calling on witnesses to step forward in the April 15, 2017, stabbing of Humboldt State University sophomore David Josiah Lawson. In a joint public service announcement Chief Brian Ahearn recorded with Lawson’s mother, Charmaine Lawson, they urge witnesses who may […]
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‘He’s Not Forgotten’: Vigil Planned for David Josiah Lawson
David Josiah Lawson’s mother is intent on both making sure Humboldt County never forgets his name and giving back to the community that has embraced her, echoing her calls for justice. Lawson, a 19-year-old Humboldt State University sophomore, was fatally stabbed at an off-campus party April 15, 2017, in a case that remains unsolved with […]
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NCJ Preview: Back in Orange, a Grim Anniversary and Taiwanese Treats
We’re going over what Humboldt’s move back into the orange COVID-19 risk tier means and how the local vaccination effort is going. And as we approach the fourth anniversary of David Josiah Lawson’s stabbing death, we look at its reverberating impacts. Finally, we’re eagerly anticipating a couple of restaurants set to open with Taiwanese specialties. […]
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Lawson Civil Trial Pushed Back
The trial date for Charmaine Lawson’s civil lawsuit alleging the city of Arcata violated her constitutional rights by inadequately and incompetently investigating the 2017 stabbing death of her son has been pushed back to late this year. The case — in which Lawson alleges racism and discrimination contributed to the city’s “deliberately indifferent” policies, practices, […]
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Civil Grand Jury Releases Report on David Josiah Lawson Case
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury released a report on the Arcata Police Department’s response to the homicide of Humboldt State University sophomore David Josiah Lawson with recommendations to improve the law enforcement agency. “The most difficult question the civil grand jury had to evaluate was the charge of racial bias within the police response,” […]
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Justice for Josiah 38th Month Vigil; Charmaine Lawson Petitions AG to Take Over the Case
Hundreds of people gathered in front of the Humboldt County Courthouse holding signs that read Black Lives Matter, asking for justice and demanding action in the unsolved killing of David Josiah Lawson. It has been 38 months since Lawson, a 19-year-old sophomore at Humboldt State University, was fatally stabbed April 15, 2017, at an off-campus […]
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Justice for Josiah Vigil Planned for Monday; Charmaine Lawson Fundraising for Legal Fees
The Justice for Josiah Committee will hold a vigil for David Josiah Lawson on Monday, June 15 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in front of the Humboldt County Courthouse. The committee has asked people to abide by social distancing guidelines and wear facial coverings to the vigil. The vigil will be held on the 38 […]