UPDATE 9/24/20 — The name of the deceased has been released, here is our latest:
ORIGINAL
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story stated that the 28 year old man had been killed. In fact, the 44 year old man is dead, and the 28 year old man, his husband, is in the hospital with a life threatening wound. The original press release from the MCSO mistakenly reversed the ages of the deceased and wounded, and though we did attempt to fact-check this issue we also did not catch the error.
WILLITS, 9/23/20 — A 44 year old man is dead, and his 28 year old husband is seriously wounded, after being shot this morning at a home in the 2500 block of Twining Road near Ukiah. The alleged killer is Thomas Dean Jones, 68 of Ukiah and step-father to the deceased. The deceased was found dead at the scene while his husband suffered at least one gunshot wound, either to the hand or arm, and was transported by ambulance to the hospital, according to Sheriff Matt Kendall, before being flown out of county to another hospital.
According to Kendall, Thomas Jones was waiting for law enforcement on the front porch of the home where the shooting occurred, and turn himself in without struggle. Said Kendall, “He sat on the porch and waited for us.” Kendall was adamant that he believed this to be a murder, not a manslaughter case, though the actual decision of what to prosecute under will lie with the district attorney.
According to Mendocino County Sheriff Kendall, the alleged murder stemmed from a family quarrel involving the property where the shooting transpired. As Kendall related, the property had been inherited by the dead 44-year-old , and the alleged killer, Jones, apparently believed that he had some claim to land. Kendall said that this dispute over the property came to a head this morning when Jones allegedly killed his step-son at that property, with a hand gun.
Kendall also noted that with this killing today Mendocino County has seen “one or two” more homicides than in past years, and that it is still only September. Said Kendall, “This is some more of that abnormal behavior,” which he has seen this year, including an unusually high number of suicides. Kendall attributes this additional violence to the exceptionally stressful times through which we are living, with the COVID pandemic, and the persistent wildfires.
Here is the updated press release from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office
UPDATED CORRECTED PRESS RELEASE:
On 09-23-2020 at 8:07 AM the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office received a call for service in regards to a shooting that had just occurred at a residence located in the 2500 block of Twining Road in Ukiah, California.
Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the residence along with personnel from the Ukiah Police Department and the California Highway Patrol.
Upon their arrival they contacted the identified shooter, Thomas Dean Jones, who self surrendered to Deputies without incident.
While at the residence, Deputies located two shooting victims, one being deceased (44 year-old male) and one having sustained life threatening injuries (28 year-old male).
The critically injured victim was transported to an out of county hospital by air ambulance.
Initial scene investigations determined the shooting appeared to be the result of a family dispute in regards to the development of the family property.
Sheriff’s Detectives were summoned to the scene and are now conducting ongoing investigations into the incident with the assistance of the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office and the California Department of Justice.
Jones was transported to the Mendocino County Jail where he was to be booked on charges of murder (187 PC), attempted murder (664/187 PC), being armed during the commission of a felony (12022.5 PC) and prohibited person in possession of a firearm (29800 PC).
Jones was to held at the Mendocino County Jail on a No Bail status.
MCSO
Here is the original press release:
DATE: “September 23, 2020”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Incident Number:
2020-23622
Crime/Incident:
187 PC (Murder)
Location:
2500 block of Twining Road in Ukiah, CA
Date of Incident:
09-23-2020
Time:
8:07 AM
Victim(s):
Adult Male (44 years-old from Ukiah, CA)
Adult Male (28 years-old from Ukiah, CA)
Suspect(s):
Thomas Dean Jones (65 years-old from Ukiah, CA)
Written By:
Captain Gregory L. Van Patten #1184Synopsis:
On 09-23-2020 at 8:07 AM the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office received a call for service in regards to a shooting that had just occurred at a residence located in the 2500 block of Twining Road in Ukiah, California.
Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the residence along with personnel from the Ukiah Police Department and the California Highway Patrol.
Upon their arrival they contacted the identified shooter, Thomas Dean Jones, who self surrendered to Deputies without incident.
While at the residence, Deputies located two shooting victims, one being deceased (28 year-old male) and one having sustained life threatening injuries (44 year-old male).
The critically injured victim was transported to an out of county hospital by air ambulance.
Initial scene investigations determined the shooting appeared to be the result of a family dispute in regards to the possible sale of the family property.
Sheriff’s Detectives were summoned to the scene and are now conducting ongoing investigations into the incident with the assistance of the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office and the California Department of Justice.
Approved by:
MCSO
Captain Gregory L. Van Patten #1184
