Suspect Identified In Fatal Lake County Shooting Spree
LAKE COUNTY (CBS SF) -- The Lake County Sheriff's office has identified the suspect in Monday's Clearlake Oaks shooting that left two dead and three injured as 61-year-old Alan Ashmore.
According to authorities, Clear Lake resident Ashmore was arrested on two counts of homicide as well as multiple other counts of assault with a firearm following the late Monday morning shooting spree. The wounded included one CHP officer injured when he was hit in his body armor by gunfire.
Authorities are still trying to determine a motive in the seemingly random shooting spree.
The Sheriff's office received the initial call about the shooting at around 11:23 p.m.
The preliminary investigation indicated that Ashmore shot into several residences in the 13000 block of Anchor Village in Clearlake Oaks. The two homicide victims were located at different locations on the same block.
Investigators said Ashmore opened fire at one victim inside a home on Anchor Village, killing that person before fatally shooting his second victim down the street as they sat in a car.
Ashmore left the neighborhood. According to the Lake County CHP, a CHP officer responding to the call about the shooting came across the suspect near Highway 20 in Clearlake Oaks.
The suspect shot the officer before getting into a car and fleeing the scene. The officer was transported to an area hospital. He talked to CHP dispatch and said he was struck by in his body armor by gunfire but would be fine.
The CHP officer was later released from the hospital, according to authorities.
Ashmore then went to a local gas station where he shot at a civilian who happened to be a licensed concealed weapons permit holder. That person returned fire, striking Ashmore's vehicle.
Ashmore proceeded to another gas station where he shot at other people. The suspect also stole a can of soda from one of the gas stations.
The Lake County Sheriff's Office sent out an alert to residents shortly before noon on Monday, notifying local residents near the post office to shelter in place.
Witnesses provided a description of the vehicle Ashmore was driving, as well as a direction of travel on High Valley Road.
Other responding deputies and officers from Lakeport Police Department and CHP set up a road block. When Ashmore encountered the roadblock, he surrendered without incident. Several firearms were recovered from his vehicle and they are believed to be the weapons used in the murders.
When asked if Ashmore was targeting anyone, Lake County District Attorney Don Anderson said, "I think he was almost targeting everybody. Everybody he had a grudge with and also random citizens.
There was also a report of a fire at around the same time that started on High Valley Road. That fire is being investigated as arson. The investigation will also focus on determining whether or not Ashmore started that fire.
Lake County Sheriff's detectives, with assistance from the CHP, Clearlake Police Department, Lakeport Police Department and the Lake County District Attorney's Office are processing multiple crime scenes.
Ashmore is expected to be booked into the Lake County Jail on multiple charges. The Lake County Sheriff's office said Ashmore has a criminal history. He has spent time in prison and has been arrested before in Lake County.
The public is being asked to provide authorities with any information they may have concerning this investigation. Anyone with information should contact Detective Sergeant John Gregore at (707) 262-4238