Fort Bragg Stabbing was Self-Defense According to the MCSO

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

On 01-31-2023 at around 8:00 PM, Deputies were dispatched to a stabbing that had just occurred near the 19000 block of South Harbor Drive in Fort Bragg, California.

Deputies arrived within a few minutes and located Jack Lemay on the ground suffering from multiple knife/stab wounds.  A 22-year-old male identified himself as the person who stabbed Lemay and this male was detained, without incident.

Deputies requested and assisted Adventist Health Mendocino Coast Paramedics with loading and transporting Lemay to the hospital for treatment.  He was later transported via air ambulance to an out of county hospital for further treatment.

Deputies collected physical evidence at the scene and obtained eyewitness statements from multiple people.

From multiple eyewitnesses, Deputies learned that Lemay had recently been physically abusive to his estranged spouse (name withheld).  The 22-year-old male, along with other family members, were attempting to assist her since that unreported assault.

On the evening of 01-31-2023, Lemay arrived at his estranged spouse’s residence, in violation of his Felony Probation terms, stemming from a recent previous domestic violence incident.

The 22-year-old male along with other family members, followed Lemay away from the area of his estranged spouse’s residence, trying to make sure he left her alone.  They all stopped in a parking lot and Lemay began to violently assault the 22-year-old male, who was sitting in a vehicle (through an open window).

The 22-year-old male attempted to protect himself and create distance from Lemay, without success.  After being drug from the vehicle and punched multiple times by Lemay, the 22-year-old male produced and knife and used it to stop Lemay from violently assaulting him further.

The 22-year-old was transported to the Sheriff’s Office Fort Bragg Substation, where he was interviewed and subsequently released.

Based on the results of this investigation, Deputies are forwarding the investigation reports to the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office seeking prosecution against Lemay for 422 PC (Criminal Threats), 273.5 PC (Felony Domestic Violence Battery), 242 PC (Battery), and 1203.2 PC (Felony Probation Violation).

Earlier: Air Ambulance Responding to Fort Bragg After Stabbing