WILLITS, Calif. – Mendocino County officials arrested an Oakland man on Monday on suspicion of the killing his girlfriend while attempting to shoot their dog.
Samuel DeJesus Campos, 46, was arrested for murder following interviews with investigators, according to Capt. Kurt Smallcomb of the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office.
Smallcomb said authorities weren't releasing the name of the 40-year-old San Leandro woman who was the victim, pending the notification of next of kin.
The investigation began Monday morning when the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office received a report of a possible homicide that had taken place the night before at a residence north of Willits in the 29800 block of N. Highway 101, Smallcomb said.
Sheriff's deputies, along with Willits Police officers, responded to the location and found inside the residence a deceased woman who had suffered a gunshot injury, according to Smallcomb.
On Monday afternoon, sheriff's detectives and deputies, with the assistance of newly elected Mendocino County District Attorney David Eyster and personnel from his office, continued the
investigation into the shooting, Smallcomb said.
Smallcomb explained that law enforcement officials learned that Campos and the victim had been living together in a 40-foot camp trailer north of Willits.
At some point on Sunday evening Campos allegedly obtained a firearm and fired at least one round, which Smallcomb said struck the victim in the upper torso.
When sheriff's detectives and district attorney's personnel interviewed Campos on Monday, he stated that during the day on Sunday he and the victim had been involved in a domestic verbal argument regarding their dog accidentally being injured while Campos was playing with it, Smallcomb said.
Campos reportedly told detectives that the woman was lying in bed while holding the small injured dog on Sunday night. He allegedly decided to shoot and kill the dog and retrieved a handgun, according to Smallcomb.
While the victim was still holding the dog, Campos allegedly fired one shot, missing the animal. Smallcomb said Campos stated that he fired a second shot fatally, striking the victim.
Smallcomb said Mendocino County Sheriff's detectives are continuing the investigation into the incident.
Campos is being held in the Mendocino County Jail, with his bail set at $500,000, Smallcomb said.
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