Two people have been hospitalized after an altercation at a large party erupted into violence and resulted in one person getting beaten and another shot, according to the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Department.
Reports say that on May 17, a 55-year-old man and 21-year-old woman were both hospitalized — the man had reportedly been shot in the lower back and the woman had been assaulted with a bat.
Deputies were alerted to the incident just before 4 AM, responding to the 100 block of Tabor Lane in Covelo.
As they investigated and gathered witness statements, deputies determined that a large party had been going on at one of the properties on Tabor Road, where multiple family members resided. At some point, an altercation between several women broke out. More relatives from another residence nearby got involved and several rifle shots were fired, one of which is believed to have struck the man who was hospitalized.
Deputies say both victims are in stable condition and expected to recover, but are refusing to cooperate. All interviewed witnesses denied knowing who fired the shots, and the weapon was not found when the properties were searched.
The case remains under open investigation.