On 03-21-2015 at about 2:10 p.m. a Humboldt County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to the Kimaw Medical Center in Hoopa, regarding a 31 year old, male victim with a gunshot wound. While the deputy was responding to the medical center in Hoopa the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office received another report regarding two more male gunshot victims at a residence on Redwood Grove Road off Pine Creek Road, Hoopa.
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office along with Hoopa Valley Tribal Police Department and the California Highway Patrol responded to the residence on Redwood Grove Road. When officers arrived on scene they located two male gunshot victims ages 73 and 29. Officers spoke to witnesses at the scene, who identified Rodney Vincent Ortiz age 52 as the suspect who shot the victims with a handgun. After the shooting Rodney Ortiz fled the scene in 2011, silver, Toyota, Rav4 with his son, Vincent Rudy Ortiz age 25.
All (3) three of the male victims were flown to a trauma hospital located in Redding, California. The male victim age 73 is currently listed in critical condition. The 29 year old male victim is currently listed in serious but stable condition. The 31 year old male victim was treated for his gunshot wound and has since been released from the hospital.
On 03-22-2015 at about 8:00 a.m. the Eureka Police Department located the silver. Toyota Rav4 parked and abandoned on the 600 block of Summer Street in Eureka. The vehicle was seized as evidence and will be processed for any possible evidence at a later date.
On 03-22-2015 at about 6:40 p.m. a Eureka Police Department Police Officer on patrol saw Rodney Ortiz walking in Winco Foods parking lot. Ortiz was taken into custody at gunpoint by the Eureka Police Department Officer without incident. Ortiz was transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility where he was booked for attempted homicide. Ortiz’s bail was set at 1.5 million dollars.
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating Vincent Rudy Ortiz, who currently has a no bail, felony arrest warrant for a parole violation. Vincent Ortiz is a person of interest in the shooting in Hoopa. Vincent Ortiz is considered armed and dangerous. Vincent Ortiz is described as a Hispanic male, 5’-7”, 160 pounds with brown eyes and brown hair.
The motive of the shooting is currently being investigated by Detectives with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office. The victims and suspects knew each other prior to the shooting.
Anyone with information for the Sheriff’s Office regarding this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Office at 707-445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at 707-268-2539.
Mike Downey, Sheriff