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On Sept. 13, 25-year-old Daniel Williamson was shot multiple times in an incident that occurred near the Mormon Church on Bay Street, as Lake County News previously reported.
Lt. Mike Hermann of the Clearlake Police Department said Monday that police have identified individuals who they believe were responsible for the assault on Williamson.
“It appears that he was accidentally shot,” said Hermann. “The shooting was intentional but we don't believe he was the initial target.”
Hermann said the incident may have been drug-related, not gang-related. That question arose because of Williamson's previous gang ties.
Hermann confirmed that Williamson was the target of an Aug. 28 countywide enforcement operation in which paroles with gang contacts were the targets of parole searches.
Williamson is still in the hospital, Hermann reported, recovering from the gunshot wounds he received.
“He was hit in the right side of his chest and also the right side of his head,” said Hermann.
The shot to Williamson's head, added Hermann, didn't penetrate his skull.
The chest wound appears to have damaged Williamson's spine, said Hermann. The result is that Williamson may be paralyzed from the waist down.
Hermann said the main suspect in the case is in custody on a parole violation.
He did not say if that suspect was John Franklin Smith, 20, a man who police contacted early in the investigation and arrested on a parole violation Sept. 14. Smith no longer is in custody in the Lake County Jail, although parole violation arrests often result in suspects being transported out of county.
Det. Martin Snyder is leading the investigation. Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Snyder or Officer Michael Ray at 994-8251.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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