Suspected in Redding shooting, local felon arrested – Multiple firearms seized

REDDING, Calif., — A felon who authorities say chased and shot at another man in Redding before firing his handgun into the air early last Monday morning was tracked down and arrested near his home last night.

Officers who served a search warrant at the man’s residence located and seized numerous firearms, including an illegal assault rifle, as well as ammunition and evidence of methamphetamine use, according to officials.

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Redding police officers began searching for the alleged suspect, since identified as Nicholas Stephen Utne, 36, of Redding, after responding to multiple reports of gunfire, Redding Police Sergeant Rob Garnero said in an initial release asking for the public’s help in identifying the gunman.

The gunfire was heard in an alleyway to the rear of an apartment complex located in the 1000 block of Center Street just before 7 a.m., according to the Sergeant.

Surveillance video footage obtained by officers and detectives during a shooting investigation showed the exact moment a felon fired a handgun into the air after chasing and shooting at another man early last Monday morning. Redding Police Department image

During their initial investigation, officers obtained video surveillance of the shooting that showed two men walking together in the area of Prince and California streets when they became involved in an altercation.

The surveillance video, which department officials shared in a social media request for information about the suspect and victim, showed that the victim fled down the alleyway as Utne gave chase.

On that video, Utne can be seen and heard firing at least two rounds at the fleeing and as-yet-unidentified victim, as he fled screaming in terror. The video then showed Utne fire another round into the air.

Although there were no subsequent reports of injuries, at least one nearby home was struck by one of the rounds allegedly fired by Utne.

Detectives assumed the investigation and began developing leads and gathering information that ultimately led them to identifying Utne as the gunman who had fired at the victim.

Based on their investigative findings, detectives obtained warrants for Utne’s arrest and to search his residence for evidence of the shooting; and Utne was arrested without incident near his residence shortly before 7 p.m.

Accused of shooting at another man in Redding last Monday morning, Nicholas Utne was interviewed by Redding PD detectives before being booked into jail. Redding Police Department photo

After Utne’s arrest, detectives and officers from the department’s Neighborhood Police Unit (NPU) served a search warrant at his residence in the 1400 block of Serrano Place; where they located and seized numerous firearms, including an illegal assault rifle, as well as ammunition and evidence of methamphetamine use.

Utne was later booked into the Shasta County Jail in Redding on suspicion of two counts of shooting in a grossly negligent manner, possession of an illegal assault weapon, and possession of firearms by a felon and drug addict.

Online jail records indicate he remains in custody in lieu of $75,000 bail or bond.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation, or who knows the identity of the victim who was chased and shot at, is encouraged to immediately contact the Redding Police Department at (530) 225-4200. Callers can refer to incident file 21R084009 can remain anonymous.

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 50, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source (RCNS) and Shasta County News Source (SCNS).

Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; the Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County; and Mountain Echo in Shasta County. He is also a regular contributor to Thin Blue Line TV and Law Enforcement News Network and has had his stories featured on news stations throughout the Southern California and North State regions.

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.