UPDATE: More details after Redding shooting critically injures two

January 15, 2021 Trevor Montgomery

UPDATED: Saturday, Jan. 16, 5:35 p.m.

See Original Story below.

REDDING, Calif. — Although their investigation is ongoing, Redding Police Department today released additional information regarding a shooting that ended with two people hospitalized with gunshot injuries and one man in custody last Friday evening, Jan. 15.

Both victims were critically injured and remain hospitalized as of this update, according to officials.

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City of Redding police officers were first dispatched to an apartment complex in the 600 block of Hartnell Avenue around 8:40 p.m., after receiving reports of a possible domestic disturbance, officials explained in today’s update; adding, “Witnesses reported hearing an altercation between a male and female in an apartment.”

While officers were still responding to the scene, 911 callers updated that a female victim had fled from the suspect into a neighboring apartment.

“Shortly thereafter, witnesses reported hearing gunshots,” said officials.

A Redding police officials interview Benjamin Pouvi Fata, after he allegedly shot his girlfriend and another person during a domestic violence related argument. He was arrested after fleeing back into, and setting ablaze, his own apartment. RPD photo

When officers arrived, they discovered the domestic disturbance had escalated and that the alleged suspect, 36-year-old, Benjamin Samuel Pouvi Fata, had armed himself with an assault rifle before shooting his girlfriend along with the neighbor whose apartment she had fled to.

“Two small children were also inside the apartment at the time Pouvi Fata shot the victims,” officials said while not specifying if the children witnessed the violent encounter.

“After shooting the two victims, Pouvi Fata retreated back into his apartment and lit it on fire,” RPD continued.

Officers eventually stormed Pouvi Fata’s apartment where they took him into custody following a brief struggle.

While all this was happening and before the scene could even be cleared for safety, Redding Fire personnel rushed into the burning apartment to extinguish the flames before they could get out of control or move to other apartments.

Both shooting victims, whose names have not been released, were transported to local hospitals in critical condition, where they are still receiving medical treatment.

Officials say a man and woman were critically injured when Pouvi Fata armed himself and began shooting during a domestic argument. Ernie Fuller Fire Information photo

After his arrest, Pouvi Fata was transported to the Redding Police Department’s Investigations Division where he was interviewed, while other officials began processing the scene of the shooting and gathering evidence related to the incident.

He was then later booked into Shasta County Jail in Redding on suspicion of attempted murder, assault with a firearm, domestic violence assault, child endangerment, criminal threats, burglary, arson and resisting/obstructing arrest.

Online jail records indicate he remains in custody in lieu of $2 million bail or bond.

Anyone with additional information regarding this incident and investigation is asked to contact Investigator Rusty Bishop of the Redding Police Department’s Investigations Division at (530) 225-4200. Callers can refer to incident file number 21R003092 and can remain anonymous.

Original Story: BREAKING: Multiple victims shot, suspect in custody, after Redding shooting

Writer’s note: This is a breaking story based solely on official radio traffic. As such, some details could change as more information becomes available.
-TM

REDDING, Calif. — Officials are continuing to work at the scene of a Redding shooting that reportedly injured at least two people this evening, Friday, Jan. 15.

Although Redding PD has not yet had the opportunity to provide any official details, according to official radio traffic, the suspect has been taken into custody and all officers have been accounted for.

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“I barely had time to get out of the way,” one witness says after pursuit races through Burney
Redding man arrested after following woman while driving stolen Good News Rescue Mission van
2 arrested, victim hospitalized, after violent Siskiyou County home invasion
Truck lands on top of car, two hospitalized, after Redding rollover wreck
Shots fired near Win River Casino cause lockdown, lead to man’s arrest
Car rolls multiple times, one ejected, after I-5 wreck

Although few official details are known, radio traffic at the time indicated that around 8:55 p.m., City of Redding police officers were dispatched to the area of Hartnell Avenue and C Street, west of Interstate 5 and Parson’s Middle School, after receiving reports of a man with a gun.

Officers began arriving in the area within one minute, as conflicting reports of two to three gunshot victims began to pour in to SHASCOM emergency dispatchers.

Redding PD, CHP, and multiple other emergency response agencies are seen at an apartment complex where a man reportedly shot at least two people before he was taken into custody. Ernie Fuller Fire Information photo and video

Officers immediately started shutting down area streets and began searching for the suspect, who was described as Samoan with a large build. He was further described as wearing shorts and a backpack.

At around 9 p.m., officers reported that the suspect had been spotted at a nearby apartment complex, in the area where early reports indicate at least two gunshot victims were found.

As a CHP helicopter circled overhead, multiple ambulances and additional law enforcement resources were summoned to the area and the gunshot victims were rushed to area hospitals.

At 9:07 p.m., officers at the scene reported some type of structure fire burning, but by 9:25 p.m., official radio traffic indicated the fire had been extinguished and the suspect had been apprehended and was in custody.

As of this report, Hartnell Avenue remains closed between Bechelli Lane and Churn Creek Road.

Contacted for more information, an official at the scene said it was too early in the investigation to release any details and that more information would be released when it was available.

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

Click any image to open full-size gallery.

Ernie Fuller Fire Information photos

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Trevor Montgomery, 49, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including KRCR News Channel 7 and Mountain Echo in Shasta County, Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego 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 30 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 18 grandchildren.