Office of the District Attorney - Maggie Fleming, District Attorney
NEWS RELEASE
July 8, 2020
No charges in the Blue Lake robbery-related homicide
Humboldt County District Attorney (DA) Maggie Fleming has declined to prosecute the employee of the Patriot Gas Station in Blue Lake for killing the person who robbed that business on the night of July 2, 2020. The employee has stated he acted in self-defense. No witness statements or other evidence contradict that assertion. The employee also stated he possessed a gun in response to a recent prior robbery at his workplace. In reaching her decision before the person arrested had to be either charged or released – within 2 court days of their arrest – the DA benefitted from a complete and efficient investigation by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office.