Man critically injured during violent confrontation, shooting, at Lake Blvd home

CITY OF SHASTA LAKE — A man was critically injured and hospitalized with at least one gunshot wound after a violent confrontation at a private residence on the 13000 block of Lake Blvd., Thursday afternoon, Oct. 11.

Officials investigating the incident say the shooting happened after three Redding men went to the home to get some personal property where the injured man had previously been helping the elderly homeowner with a marijuana grow.

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Redding PD began investigating the shooting around 12:30 p.m., after officers received a report of a man, later identified as 34-year-old, James Owens Junior, who had been dropped off at Shasta Regional Medical Center suffering from at least one gunshot wound.

Based on the circumstances, detectives with the Shasta County Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit assumed the investigation.

Detectives learned Owens Jr. and two friends, Roy Orosco and Michael Spruth, had gone to the Lake Boulevard residence owned by 67-year-old, Elliot Stennes, where they cut a chain that was locking a set of metal gates to gain entry onto the property.

According to detectives, Stennes saw the three men entering his property and came out of his house, at which time an argument ensued between him and Owens Jr.

Stennes alleged that during the confrontation Owens Jr. sprayed him with pepper spray, causing the elderly homeowner to retrieve a small-caliber, black powder pistol from his pocket and fire several rounds at Owens Jr. “in his own defense.” At least one of the fired rounds struck and critically injured Owens Jr.

According to sheriff’s officials Stennes and Owens Jr. knew each other from when Owens Jr. had been helping the homeowner with a marijuana grow on the man’s Lake Blvd. property. Stennes also reported to investigators that Owens Jr. had made physical threats to harm him in the past.

Owens remains hospitalized in critical condition and no arrests have been made as detectives continue to follow-up on their investigation, according to sheriff’s officials.

This is a developing story that will be updated as new information is available.

 

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Trevor Montgomery, 47, recently moved to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle, and Anza Valley Outlook; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 28 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 14 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.