Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office Seeks Information on 22-Year-Old Fatally Shot in the Back

Joseph Deford in June of 2019.

Joseph Deford in June of 2019.

Information from Del Norte County Sheriff’s Department:

The Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office is asking for your help regarding a suspected homicide that happened today (04/22/2021) between the hours of 12:50am and 1:20am. At this time, the known series of events are as follows:

On 04/22/2021 at about 1:14am, the Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office dispatch center received a report of a man lying on the ground near the 200 block of Harding Avenue [in Crescent City]. Within six minutes, a law enforcement officer arrived on scene and found Joseph Deford (22-years-old) unresponsive. Life-saving efforts were attempted including CPR and the administration of naloxone. Deford was transported to Sutter Coast Hospital. Deford was unable to be revived. While at the hospital, a presumed small caliber gunshot wound was located in his back.

Through the course of this investigation, it has been confirmed that Deford left Patriot Gas Station at Northcrest Drive and Washington Blvd at about 12:50am, walking westbound on Washington Blvd. He was also seen just a few minutes later walking south near the 1200 block of California Street. He was found unresponsive near the 200 block of Harding Avenue at 1:14am.

This investigation is active and we are working with multiple agencies including the Del Norte County District Attorney’s Office. We are requesting any relevant information you may have. Please contact dispatch at 7074644191 ext 0. You can also provide information anonymously by texting DNSOTIP to 847411 (tip411).

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29 Comments
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J
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J
2 years ago

Let the speculation and victim blaming begin, brought to you by Kym’s lovely platform of useless garbage.

Obliviously
Guest
Obliviously
2 years ago
Reply to  J

Nobody forces you to come here.

YeahYeah
Guest
YeahYeah
2 years ago
Reply to  J

Then why do you even read this? Go somewhere else there is no reason for your rude comments. There is a family whom lost a 22 year old child! Get over yourself smh

KLMNOP
Guest
KLMNOP
2 years ago
Reply to  J

You should spend your time more wisely then checking into RRHB. You know something more productive like getting a life?

Early Cuyler
Guest
Early Cuyler
2 years ago
Reply to  J

Go back to reddit and stay there.

Just Sayin
Guest
Just Sayin
2 years ago
Reply to  J

Wtf exactly do you bring to the table? 95% of your comments are seemingly incoherent!

Z
Guest
Z
2 years ago
Reply to  J

J, I so appreciate yr unrelenting
and unfounded hostility to Kym’s work reminding me to send her site a check.
Kym, know many of us appreciate your standards as a news outlet. Please make my life easier, and print your mailing address here. Thanks!!

Shawnese
Guest
Shawnese
2 years ago
Reply to  J

Thank you. That’s mostly what’s going on is speculation so far. But the comments are very strong. Its hard to be grieving and see such hate towards such a bright funny loving caring brother who suffered and was struggling with hardships throughout his young life.. anyone who knew the real Joe knows how wonderful he was and how heartbreaking this is for not just his family but his friends as well.

Mendoreader
Guest
Mendoreader
2 years ago

J what exactly is your aim here?

Why do you do this repeatedly?

Kym gives us local news , and most of us are incredibly appreciative .

Just Saying...
Guest
Just Saying...
2 years ago
Reply to  Mendoreader

Just another idiot with nothing better to do than sit around and puss and moan about the things he sees. Pretty pathetic existence if I say so….

Busybody
Guest
Busybody
2 years ago

Have to say that the reporting on this site is much more informative and journalistically professional than traditional mainstream media we have come rely on and be indoctrinated by. Thank you for the professionalism

Steve Koch
Guest
Steve Koch
2 years ago
Reply to  Busybody

plus this site mainly just reprints press releases with no commentary. If the press release is not accurate, that is the fault of whoever wrote the press release.

I like to read the comments to fill in the story behind the story.

Mendocino Mamma
Guest
Mendocino Mamma
2 years ago

TRAGIC. RIP too young, bad judgements, reactions too harsh. Misplaced anger and inability to let things go another life is lost.

Becky Stone
Guest
2 years ago

You gave that mean person just exactly what they were looking for by replying to them. Ignore ignorance and keep the focus on a 22 yo life lost.

Antichrist
Guest
Antichrist
2 years ago
Reply to  Becky Stone

What good is life when we are all slaves, it is better for him this way his next adventure has begun

M
Guest
M
2 years ago

Mendocino Mamma- Sounds like you know who shot this young man in the back and why. Maybe you should report your information to the Del Norte Sheriff’s department. They still haven’t made any arrests. You should come forward and turn the murderers in.

Sad times
Guest
Sad times
2 years ago

22 so young 😭💔 why? This world can be harsh. RIP. My condolences to his loved ones.

MJ
Guest
MJ
2 years ago

Hope they catch the shooter! Best wishes and prayers to the family.

Bobbi
Guest
Bobbi
2 years ago

Unfortunately things like this happen when you choose to live a life involved with drugs and hanging around the wrong people and making bad choices . Screwing with people isn’t worth his life. He made a lot of bad decisions and it’s horrible it had to end like it did. So sorry for his family. Wish things could have been different.

That guy
Guest
2 years ago

Check the gas station camera bc just two or three days ago there was a black and silver car look like white or Mexican males went to Patriot but they were closed there is a black car when I arrived to Patriot left when I did then there was a silver car drive right past me flip a u-turn then there’s a black car again they did that repeatedly following me at 12a.m or 1a.m then proceeded walking down northcrest towards shell they were open both cars disappeared on hardening a male Mexican with bald or faded hair or white male could have been Mexican male

Shawnese
Guest
Shawnese
2 years ago
Reply to  That guy

Can you contact me? I’m one of his sister’s .

A
Guest
A
2 years ago

Nobody deserves to go out like that but let’s all be real here. If you live in CC chances are you know a Deford or you actually knew Joe, not the greatest family and he wasn’t the best person. Notorious for stealing and then selling stolen goods on Facebook. Heavily into drugs and hung out with shady people, we all know where that can lead. Nobody saw a random guy walking down the street at 1am and just decided to kill him, chances are the person who did it was someone he screwed over. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. RIP.

Wendy
Guest
Wendy
2 years ago
Reply to  A

What a shitty thing to say!

Shawnese
Guest
Shawnese
2 years ago
Reply to  A

Only accurate thing you said was nobody deserves to go out like this.

Shawnese
Guest
Shawnese
2 years ago
Reply to  A

Who are you claiming to know him and his family anyway. Joe was my baby brother so I’d love to know why you have such sour words for my brother and family. @ a? Since you didn’t put your name? Rip brother. No matter what anyone says he never did anything to deserve this… Here’s a picture of him holding my daughter. Who is now five and doesn’t get to have a relationship with her uncle because of this. But knows her poor uncle was shot and killed, whose life was taken for no good dam reason..point blank period. Punks with guns is the real problem. How would you feel watching video of your brother running for his life. Grow up and watch your mouth

Shawnese
Guest
Shawnese
2 years ago

❤️

Shawnese
Guest
Shawnese
2 years ago

And to post his mug shot instead of a truly accurate picture of him.. this is all just a story to you all but this was my baby brother and that’s not the real him, in his mugshots that’s a good young man making bad decisions but that doesn’t define who he was as a person . Nobody’s perfect.

Carla
Guest
Carla
2 years ago
Reply to  Shawnese

I am so sorry for the loss of your brother. I don’t believe I know or had met him. I do know of some of his friends. I do not know what the situation was. It is hard to lose someone you love. May he RIP. May your family find some closure in this.

Shawnese
Guest
Shawnese
2 years ago
Reply to  Carla

I appreciate that Carla. Thank you for your kind words, it’s been hard grieving . Someone set his memorial site on fire this morning.. sickening