San Francisco Man Charged with Attempted Murder After Firing a Gun at Individual After Argument, Says EPD

This is a press release from the Eureka Police Department. The information has not been proven in a court of law and any individuals described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty:

James Clayton Atkins [Booking photo from Eureka Police Department]

On May 11, 2023, at approximately 12:25 a.m., the Eureka Police Department (EPD) received a report of an argument followed by the sounds of gunshots in the 1800 block of California Street. Our dispatch center received a call from the victim in this investigation who stated a suspect had fired a handgun at them, while they were engaged in a verbal altercation, shooting out the back window of their vehicle. No one was injured during this incident. This was not a random act of violence and was targeted only at the victim.After the shooting, the victim began following the suspect and provided vital information about the suspect’s vehicle and direction of travel. A county-wide “be on the look out” was issued for the suspect and vehicle. At approximately 12:39 a.m., a Humboldt County Sheriff’s Deputy located the vehicle in the Cutten area and attempted an enforcement stop. The vehicle failed to yield and a pursuit of the vehicle ensued. The pursuit traveled back through Eureka and concluded near Broadway and McCullens Avenue, when the suspect’s vehicle became disabled.  The suspect was taken into custody without any further incident. 

The suspect was identified as James Clayton Atkins, 39 years old, from San Francisco, California. Atkins was transported and booked at the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on two (2) counts of Attempted Murder. This is an ongoing investigation and additional charges are expected to be filed against Atkins.

Earlier: Law Enforcement Pursued Suspect in a Vehicle Shooting in Eureka During Early Morning Hours