The Clearlake Police Department said 51-year-old Kevin Quinn of Clearlake died shortly after he was shot multiple times by 67-year-old James Mitchell.
“They've had previous issues,” Clearlake Police Sgt. Tim Hobbs told Lake County News on Sunday afternoon.
Hobbs said that Quinn had worked for Mitchell a few years ago, noting, “They weren't on good terms then.”
Hobbs' report on the incident explained that at 2 a.m. Sunday Mitchell was asleep in his residence in the 14200 block of Olympic Drive when Quinn allegedly drove a 1994 Chevrolet Silverado pickup into the front of Mitchell's home.
Hobbs said Mitchell armed himself with a handgun and went to the area of his residence where he heard the crash. When Mitchell went into the room he reportedly was confronted by Quinn, who had gotten out of the pickup.
Quinn allegedly advanced toward Mitchell in a threatening manner while making threats to kill him, Hobbs said.
Mitchell attempted to flee his own residence, and as he was trying to get out of the house Quinn caught up to him, Hobbs said.
Mitchell fired his handgun at Quinn and struck him multiple times before going outside of the residence to notify police, according to Hobbs' report.
Officer Travis Lenz, who was on patrol in the area, saw Mitchell walking out to Olympic Drive while holding a handgun and contacted him, Hobbs said.
Lenz was unaware of the shooting or the crash, said Hobbs, adding that at the same time a Clearlake Police dispatcher was on the phone with a person who was reporting hearing a possible vehicle crash and gunshots in the area.
Sgt. Tim Celli and Officer Ryan Peterson arrived at the scene within one minute and found Quinn inside the residence, suffering from life-threatening injuries from what appeared to be gunshot wounds, said Hobbs.
Hobbs said medical personnel from the Lake County Fire Protection District were dispatched to the scene and arrived a short time later. A REACH helicopter also was dispatched to the scene and landed at Haverty Field in Austin Park to transport Quinn.
Quinn died at the scene of his injuries before he could be transferred to the helicopter, Hobbs said.
Hobbs said Clearlake Police detectives responded and took over the investigation.
Based on the investigation so far, Hobbs said it appears that Mitchell acted in self-defense and was justified in shooting Quinn.
Hobbs said that once the investigation is complete it will be sent to the District Attorney's Office for review, which he said is the standard procedure for handling such cases.
The Clearlake Police Department is asking anyone with information regarding this case to contact Det. Tim Alvarado at 707-994-8251.
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