16-Year-Old Suspect in Last Night’s Shooting Surrenders to APD

One of the vehicles is stopped with all four doors open. One door has what looks like bloody bandages outside one door.

One of the vehicles is stopped with all four doors open. One door has what looks like bloody bandages outside one door. [Image from Bobby Kroeker]

This is a press release from the Arcata Police Department:

On Sunday, May 26, 2019 at 9:52 PM, Arcata Police Department Dispatch received several calls of shots fired in the area of Foster Avenue and Alliance Road.  As Arcata Police Officers arrived on scene they located two gunshot victims and multiple witnesses.  Taevonne Latimer, 18 years old of Eureka, was located in the back seat of a vehicle stopped in traffic at the scene.  Taevonne sustained several gunshot wounds to the torso area.  Taevonne was transported to Mad River Community Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.  The second gunshot victim, Daylyn Prudhomme, 18 years old of Eureka, sustained a gunshot wound to his right upper thigh that exited and grazed his left thigh.  Daylyn was also transported to Mad River Community Hospital where he was treated and discharged.

Taevonne, Daylyn and two juvenile friends entered into a sales transaction for marijuana with a White male.  According to the victims, the transaction was arranged through snapchat.  Taevonne, Daylyn and a White male juvenile friend exited their vehicle and met at the bus stop on Foster Avenue just East of Alliance Road; the location agreed upon for the transaction to take place.  During the transaction the White male who the victim group had arranged the transaction with produced a handgun and fired multiple rounds; striking Taevonne and Daylyn.  Their juvenile friend was not struck by gunfire.  A couple on vacation were driving on Foster Avenue when they came upon the scene and rendered aid to Taevonne before APD Officers and medical personnel from the Arcata Fire District and Arcata-Mad River Ambulance arrived and treated both Taevonne and Daylyn for their injuries.

The suspect was described as a White male, wearing a gray sweat suit and a green camouflage jacket.  He was last seen on foot northbound on Western Avenue from Foster Avenue.  APD Officers, with the assistance of Humboldt State University Police Officers, California Highway Patrol Officers and personnel from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office conducted an intensive search for the suspect and processed the scene for evidence.  The suspect was not located.

Arcata Police Department Detectives developed information that led to the identity of a 16 year old Manila resident who is the suspect in this shooting.  The suspect, whose identity will not be released due to him being a minor, surrendered to Arcata Police Department personnel at approximately 12:45 PM on Monday, May 28, 2019.  The suspect was accompanied by a family member.  The suspect was booked into Juvenile Hall for one count of murder and one count of attempt murder. [According to Chief Ahearn, the suspect, “Didn’t say a whole lot” and did not bring an attorney with him.]

This investigation is on-going and the murder weapon remains outstanding.  There are no additional suspects and there is no remaining threat to the community as a result of this incident.  Anyone who witnessed or who has information related to this incident is asked to call the Arcata Police Department at 822-2424.

UPDATE: ‘I Feel Like Every Kid in Humboldt Is Crying Today’: Eureka Teen Remembers Victim of Sunday’s Shooting

Earlier Chapters:

Facebooktwitterpinterestmail

Join the discussion! For rules visit: https://kymkemp.com/commenting-rules

Comments system how-to: https://wpdiscuz.com/community/postid/10599/

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

91 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Mom
Guest
Mom
4 years ago

Prudhomme… did he have a relative that was murdered in eureka like last year? Older gentleman?

Buster
Guest
Buster
4 years ago

Wannabe gangster thinking it’s just a game. Totally a damn shame all the way around. What a waste of life and youthful innocence.

HOJ in Training
Guest
HOJ in Training
4 years ago
Reply to  Buster

Come on, Arcata Police Dept. Monday, May 28th? You folks can’t even get the day correct in a press release?!?

Suspect turned himself in on Monday, May 27th.

Riot Fiftythousand
Guest
Riot Fiftythousand
4 years ago

Lol, they are high school grads and GED holders, what did you expect?
Just another reason to require a University Diploma to train to be a Cop.

Willie Caso-Mayhem
Guest
4 years ago

🕯🇺🇸🌳Well at least he turned himself in.

tax payer
Guest
tax payer
4 years ago

blow out THAT candle

LostCoastEMP
Guest
LostCoastEMP
4 years ago
Reply to  tax payer

A disgrace to the flag

Ullr Rover
Guest
Ullr Rover
4 years ago

2 lives ruined. A tragedy by any measure.

Cj
Guest
Cj
4 years ago

Wait and see…I want to know who was robbing who..

anny
Guest
anny
4 years ago

Doesn’t say who the buyer or seller was. Could be the victims offered weed they didn’t have with intent to rob the buyer of his cash. Buyer brought a gun to protect himself and wound up using it when the victims tried to rob him. Only scenario I can come up with.

..
Guest
..
4 years ago
Reply to  anny

Anny,
thanks.

Thirdeye
Guest
Thirdeye
4 years ago
Reply to  anny

Could be, could be not. Just have to wait and see….

MissDee
Guest
MissDee
4 years ago
Reply to  anny

No
I witnessed the aftermath .

Those boys were done wrong

guest
Guest
guest
4 years ago
Reply to  anny

Anny: still not a justifiable reason to murder someone who’s unarmed. How the hell does a 16 yr old kid have a gun. When did kids stop regular fist fights. There are many other scenarios besides the one you imagined. Whoever sold or gave a 16 yr old a gun is an idiot moron & should be charged. Irresponsible individuals like this are the reason why gun laws will change for all us, they’re ruining it for us law abiding responsible gun owners!

THC
Guest
THC
4 years ago
Reply to  guest

I’ve had a gun since I was 10, never once thought of shooting somebody. I do carry a gun in case somebody tries hurting me though…

guest
Guest
guest
4 years ago
Reply to  THC

It’s illegal to have a gun at 10 & 16 btw, unlike yourself “thc”, I’d never shoot someone that was trying to hurt me, only use mine if my life was in immediate danger. Obviously, you just thought of shooting someone in your comment & contradict yourself. smh

tax payer
Guest
tax payer
4 years ago
Reply to  guest

wrong. check yourself

LostCoastEMP
Guest
LostCoastEMP
4 years ago
Reply to  guest

When one owns a conceal carry weapon guest, you must think about defending yourself from others with firearms when carrying in public. It should always linger in the back of your mind. Pay attention to your surroundings and prejudge people. It could save your life, or you can just do nothing and hope others save you.?!?!

Guest
Guest
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  anny

That’s the way I suspect it happened also, although I’ve heard it reported as both ways from the news

LostCoastEMP
Guest
LostCoastEMP
4 years ago
Reply to  Guest

“People with the intentions of killing others is what kills people”.

Sheesh
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  LostCoastEMP

If you are forced to pull a firearm…
You should always shoot to kill.
Anything less opens you up to being sued.
And you may still be sued by the relatives of who you shot.

LostCoastEMP
Guest
LostCoastEMP
4 years ago
Reply to  Sheesh

Get insurance….. I do.

Guest
Guest
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  anny

That’s the way I suspect it happened also, although the news has reported the story both ways so someone’s got the story wrong or someone gave the wrong story, but however it happened doesn’t really matter or change the fact that one young man lost his life and the other one ruined his, turned out to be a much greater loss for everyone over something so senseless.

lauracooskey
Guest
lauracooskey
4 years ago
Reply to  anny

Funny that’s the only scenario you can come up with. What about: Guy with gun comes to “buy” weed, intending to rob them. That’s why he brings the gun! Shoots his gun to make his point, realizes that makes noise and draws attention, runs off without the weed. Or, pissed off that he couldn’t get the weed, shoots to “teach them a lesson,” and runs off–again without the weed, unless it was a pretty small amount.
Do any of these articles mention where the weed was in all this?

Guest
Guest
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  anny

Anny,
no money or mj was mentioned as having been found, only the “victims'” side has been heard.

How is an adult selling something illegal to a minor a “victim?”

The buyer (the shooter) was under aged, the seller (Traevonne) was an adult and had a record, he was soliciting a minor.

onlooker
Guest
onlooker
4 years ago
Reply to  Guest

Interesting misspelling of the murder victim’s name there Homer. Your subconscious is speaking loud and clear. And aside from that, everything you say about this is pure speculation, with a sprinkling of racism for extra flavor.

Elephant
Guest
Elephant
4 years ago
Reply to  onlooker

This is really helpful!

.
Guest
.
4 years ago
Reply to  onlooker

Onlooker,
wasn’t addressing you.

Correction, “Taevonne” an adult came into Arcata to sell mj to a minor (the shooter), which is contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Is this the correct Taevonne, the guy with the record?

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.redbluffdailynews.com/2019/04/22/police-logs-april-23-2019/amp/

lauracooskey
Guest
lauracooskey
4 years ago
Reply to  .

You call being cited for resisting a police officer on 4/20 “having a record”? Lol. Show me any evidence of a violent or hurtful crime. Please. And not the Red Bluff news… article is behind a paywall. Oh here it is from the Corning news: “Taevonne Michael Latimer, 18, of Eureka was arrested by a Tehama County sheriff’s deputy April 20 at the Tehama District Fairgrounds and booked into the Tehama County Jail on suspicion of obstruct/resist public officers. Bail was set at $15,000.”
To me this occurrence–rowdy behavior at a rodeo– does not shade Taevonne’s character in any way equivalent to what the 16-year-old brought to a weed deal.

J
Guest
J
4 years ago
Reply to  .

You must be a privileged individual thats never had to struggle why are you trying to bring shade to a dark situation all you people commenting all the time like you have never done anything wrong, the only reason that kid brought a gun was to rob them. People that do good business dont bring a gun. If you havnt had a struggle you cant imagine what people have to go through, how hard it really is, look outside your window its not all sunshine and rainbows. Its a hard cruel world . Rest easy little bro🙏🏽

Riot Fiftythousand
Guest
Riot Fiftythousand
4 years ago
Reply to  anny

By experience?
lol

.
Guest
.
4 years ago

Where’s the money, the mj?

What was the shooters side?

Thirdeye
Guest
Thirdeye
4 years ago
Reply to  .

No mention of the driver, who probably skedaddled when the shots were fired. The snapchat thread that set up the deal is probably being scrutinized.

MissDee
Guest
MissDee
4 years ago
Reply to  Thirdeye

I sat with the driver while the initial investigation was happening
He was distraught
He was brave and maintained calm and composure
His mind was solely concerned with how and when to tell his mother about Teavonne.
Respect.

These boys are kids ,
not to be judged or blamed ,
even the one who fired the shots
It is just a bad scenario

Factz

God bless all the families

Thank you
Guest
Thank you
4 years ago
Reply to  MissDee

Thank you so much for sitting with him, I have known both those boys since they were born and I’m sure he need a friendly face. Breaks my heart to think of the mental anguish he was going through.

tax payer
Guest
tax payer
4 years ago
Reply to  MissDee

not to be judged or blamed? what if it was your kid

Guest
Guest
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  tax payer

Poor judgement is the problem. The answer to that is not “no judgement” but better judgement.

MB
Guest
MB
4 years ago
Reply to  MissDee

I couldn’t agree more. Everyone is so focused on who did what….but the real tragedy to me is that 2 young lives were LOST in this incident and many more are forever changed!!! Show some respect people!

.....
Guest
.....
4 years ago

Good investigation apd.

Good police chief.

Guest
Guest
Guest
4 years ago

Taevonne Latimer (“the victim”) of eureka, 18, arrested last April,same guy?
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.redbluffdailynews.com/2019/04/22/police-logs-april-23-2019/amp/

Thirdeye
Guest
Thirdeye
4 years ago
Reply to  Guest

Seems highly likely, unless there were two 18 year old Taevonne Latimers from Eureka. Thanks for finding that.

Please be mindful of family.
Guest
Please be mindful of family.
4 years ago
Reply to  Thirdeye

This child is a very sweet boy that would put anyone’s priorities before his. He would be the first to put his safely aside to help a complete stranger not to mention his “family”. He will missed everyday by many.

Thirdeye
Guest
Thirdeye
4 years ago

I believe the linked story juxtaposed with the accounts of those who knew him suggest a complicated picture of what was going on in his life. Probably neither all good or all bad. The one redemption that can be gained in a situation like this is for people to learn the lessons.

Steve Parr
Guest
Steve Parr
4 years ago

Yet he was already committing felonies.

lauracooskey
Guest
lauracooskey
4 years ago
Reply to  Steve Parr

Felonies? Can you cite some verification?

Steve Parr
Guest
Steve Parr
4 years ago
Reply to  lauracooskey

It is a felony to sell marijuana to a minor.

Now, if they were just going to rob him, that might be a misdemeanor. but sales to a minor is a felony.

isnt that ironic
Guest
isnt that ironic
4 years ago
Reply to  Steve Parr

Conspiracy to commit a felony, is a felony.

Great idea
Guest
Great idea
4 years ago

You’re right, he didn’t do nothing

Diamond
Guest
4 years ago

Please Be Mindful of Family – thank you! and I certainly agree. he must have been put in a very scary situation for this to occur…life threatening.

local woman
Guest
local woman
4 years ago
Reply to  Thirdeye

I thought he was 16?

lauracooskey
Guest
lauracooskey
4 years ago
Reply to  local woman

The shooting suspect is 16, that’s why there’s no name for him.

Steve Parr
Guest
Steve Parr
4 years ago
Reply to  local woman

The shooter was sixteen. That’s why it would be a felony for the victims, who are 18, to be selling pot to him.

.
Guest
.
4 years ago
Reply to  Guest

The lost coast refused to let the link showing the deceased’s record for resisting arrest be shown in their comment section

but they allowed slurs against the shooter.

There are 2 sides 2 every story.

MOGTX
Guest
4 years ago

That counts the bulgarians out

Blessings
Guest
Blessings
4 years ago

Thoughts and prayers go out the Latimer family. I am so very sorry for the loss of this young man.

Steve Parr
Guest
Steve Parr
4 years ago

High school senior. Fixing to graduate. Killed while committing a crime.

Not much else to say.

Except that, even in Humboldt County, it is illegal for a minor to buy, sell, transport, use, grow – to have anything to do with weed.

It’s just as against the law as an 18 year old distilling moonshine, drinking it in public, and selling it on the Plaza.

No mention of that yet, in any story that I’ve seen, nor have I seen any mention of California’s felony murder rule, which provides for a murder charge to be brought against all participants of a felony during which someone is killed, regardless of who does the killing.

It is a felony for an 18 year old to sell marijuana to a 16 year old.

There could be more than one defendant in this case, if the DA has the balls to charge the black co-conspirator who was injured.

All in all, it doesn’t sound like these were the “good kids” people are trying to make them out to be.

Thirdeye
Guest
Thirdeye
4 years ago
Reply to  Steve Parr

Charge the black co-conspirator but not the white co-conspirator accompanying them or the driver? Your omission speaks volumes.

I seem to recall that California recently put limitations on the felony murder rule, such that knowing that the crime could lead to lethal force in its execution is required for the felony murder rule to be in effect. If this was indeed an attempted strongarm robbery on a public street it would not meet that standard. There was no mention of the crew carrying weapons.

Anon.
Guest
Anon.
4 years ago
Reply to  Thirdeye

Third,
Traevonne was an adult selling something illegal to a minor, isn’t that some kind of contributing to the delinquency of a minor?

The shooter couldn’t buy mj legally as a minor.

guest
Guest
guest
4 years ago
Reply to  Anon.

Is selling marijuana outside of a licensed store ever legal?

Thirdeye
Guest
Thirdeye
4 years ago
Reply to  Anon.

…..and as everyone knows, the penalty for contributing to the delinquency of a minor is death.

guest
Guest
guest
4 years ago
Reply to  Thirdeye

The reality is that it did. This was not a penalty imposed but the risk involved. Risk is something that many young people do not think of.

Please keep illegal transactions out of Arcata and Eureka
Guest
Please keep illegal transactions out of Arcata and Eureka
4 years ago
Reply to  Thirdeye

Third,
thanks,
shouldn’t they all have been charged?

4 people came into to Arcata with the intent to sell mj to somebody who turned out to be a minor, the buyer shot some of them.

Thirdeye
Guest
Thirdeye
4 years ago

You seem to have missed my point.

.
Guest
.
4 years ago
Reply to  Thirdeye

Third.
Sorry.

Jasmine thompson
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  Thirdeye

You all can stop speaking on scenarios this is my blood cousin his family do not appreciate this I suggest everyone stop commenting we can all have a real discussion in person at a church speak then not over the internet I will be in eureka very soon anyone that wants to meet and speak about my cousin do it in me and my family face [email protected] and god bless

Jeffersonian
Guest
Jeffersonian
4 years ago
Reply to  Steve Parr

Well no need to wait and see what happens, you seem to have it all figured out. Just fill in the blanks to fit your predetermined stereotypes and presto, the guys that got shot are now the felons. Keep working at it, Sherlock. The detectives wait with bated breath for your next installment, almost certainly…

Hard Truths
Guest
Hard Truths
4 years ago
Reply to  Jeffersonian

Either a 16 year old kid just did a cold-blooded murder or three guys tried to rob the wrong kid and learned the hard way. Regardless, every one of these people is a moron for arranging a large drug deal over snapchat with people they didn’t know, then meeting in a car on some back street to do the transaction. Several future crimes were prevented thanks to this “tragedy.”

Guest
Guest
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  Hard Truths

Hard,

thanks.

.
Guest
.
4 years ago
Reply to  Jeffersonian

The sellers came into Arcata to commit a crime.

Guest
Guest
Guest
4 years ago

That’s the way I suspect it happened also, although the news has reported the story both ways so someone’s got the story wrong or someone gave the wrong story, but however it happened doesn’t really matter or change the fact that one young man lost his life and the other one ruined his, turned out to be a much greater loss for everyone over something so senseless.

Tragedy and Hope
Guest
Tragedy and Hope
4 years ago

Just look at what culture our kids are growing up in. Everyone is on edge, in this economy. These kids probably grew up with other kids whose parents are / were in the weed game. It’s gotta be tough growing up around spoiled/entitled kids of parents who have given everything to their children, while many just hate the fact their parents are working class parents.

So much violence in the entertainment industry, so its hard to blame kids for the world that’s been left for them to deal with.

Just think, Tae was about to graduate, and could have gone on to the military where a real father figure could have molded that angst into something productive. He could have done so much more if somebody would have paid attention sooner to the ways in which kids drift into negative cycles.

I hope this tragedy isn’t lost on those friends.

robash141
Guest
robash141
4 years ago

Charge whichever “
adult” who provided the 16 year old suspect having a gun with First Degree Murder . Just like they pulled the trigger themselves.

.
Guest
.
4 years ago

Why is there an attitude that something heroic happened?

They we’re all there to do something illegal.

Martin
Guest
Martin
4 years ago
Reply to  .

Worthless APD. Too busy eating tacos at Rico’s Tacos Taqueria to notice an open air dope deal. Dem kids play stupid games, dem kids win stupid prizes.

curlybill
Guest
curlybill
4 years ago
Reply to  .

I agree,
more pressure from LE on the black market

Cannabis Is Legal
Guest
Cannabis Is Legal
4 years ago

Cannabis is legal.

LostCoastEMP
Guest
LostCoastEMP
4 years ago

No. It is regulated and taxed. You are wrong. It’s not legal

pooopie the magic potty
Guest
pooopie the magic potty
4 years ago
Reply to  LostCoastEMP

beer is regulated and taxed. so beer is not legal? WRONG.

beer is legal under regulated conditions.
spray paint is legal under regulated conditions.
weed is legal under regulated conditions.

weed is not legal in the eyes of the feds but nobody gives a ^%$# about the feds.

.
Guest
.
4 years ago

You want a 16 year old to get high?

Steve Parr
Guest
Steve Parr
4 years ago

Weed is not legal under any circumstances for an 18 year old, and it is a felony for an 18 year old to sell weed to a 16 year old.

If that’s actually what happened.

Guest
Guest
Guest
4 years ago

Mj is not legal to minors.

GUEST
Guest
GUEST
4 years ago

Apd is doing a good job but maybe somebody could consider adding an extra officer or 2, just to patrol the guintoli, and plaza area, a type of “ranger.”

This happened, before that another shoot out over mj, a home invasion, a stabbing within the year.

What’s so special about guintoli?

more proof that cops are racists
Guest
more proof that cops are racists
4 years ago

“The suspect was described as a White male”. Why does the APD capitalize “White”?

When they do not capitalize black male in any other press releases.

The suspect is described as a black male adult about 6 feet 4 inches tall wearing a black mask, sunglasses, a grey sweatshirt, and blue jeans.

J
Guest
J
4 years ago

It’s so funny reading all these comments of all these people that think their godly enough to judge a stranger based on a few facts. It’s so hilarious that these people don’t realize how much putting that energy out there comes back on them. The fact that these people think they’re actually good people when they’re spending their time judging a dead child(whom only 4 other people know who the dealer was, IF it even mattered). Good people volunteering and contribute instead of bashing dead children, it’s so hilarious, how lost and will fully ignorant these people are!!! Lol! Enjoy your supreme delusion up on those high horses, or stop wasting oxygen and be a contribution to the planet. The only reason to kill someone is that they’re about to kill you, only human garbage thinks otherwise.

Diamond
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  J

j exactly…unfortunately the gun was the only equalizer the 16 year old child had at that time.

Mogtx
Guest
4 years ago

SAD

Drug dealers stay out of Arcata and Eureka
Guest
Drug dealers stay out of Arcata and Eureka
4 years ago

They all created a situation which could have endangered the community.

They all deserve to be judged in the harshest way, so this never happens again.

A shoot out over drugs happened in that same area a few months ago.

If they want to sell their drugs stay out of Arcata and Eureka.

guest
Guest
guest
4 years ago

It’s time for the police to conduct pot sale stings. Too many people are selling when they shouldn’t and putting themselves and the public at risk. Spread the word that someone has pot for sale and arrest the people who show up to buy or show up as a person willing to buy and arrest them. With luck, a seller and a purchaser can both be arrested. It will not result in more than a fine but advertising the results may make the people doing illegal sales and purchases both be a little more careful than they have been lately.

Diamond
Guest
4 years ago

so sorry for the loss of life and there is more to this story. 2 adults and 2 juveniles against 1 16 year old? the kid may have been defending himself. Please get a good lawyer and change your life.