Covelo Man Arrested for Attempted Murder

Jose Escareno age 27 of Covelo

This is a press release from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office. The information has not been proven in a court of law and the individual should be presumed innocent until proven guilty:

On 02/21/15 at about 1:40 PM Deputies from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office were detailed to the Covelo Mobile Home Park located on Howard St. in Covelo regarding a shooting.  Deputies arrived and spoke with the victims David Sifuentes and Eduardo Sifuentes.

Deputies learned there had been an argument over a subject driving through the park at a high rate of speed.  The argument became a physical fight and a passenger from the vehicle, later identified as Jose Escareno, [age 27 of Covelo] exited the vehicle removed a firearm from his waistband, and struck one of the subjects in the back with the firearm.  This caused the firearm to discharge into the wall of a neighboring residence.

Escareno then pointed the firearm at two of the subjects and pulled the trigger several times while saying he was going to kill them.  The firearm had malfunctioned and did not discharge.  Deputies were advised a warden from the Department of Fish and Wildlife had the vehicle stopped on Highway 162 in Covelo.  Deputies responded and seized two loaded handguns from the vehicle, one of which matched the description provided by the witnesses.  Deputies also seized a spent pistol casing from the scene of the shooting which matched the caliber of the handgun.

Jose Escareno was interviewed and subsequently booked into the Mendocino County Jail where he is held on $125,000.00 bail.