Search And Rescue Volunteer Shot In Nevada County Identified
NEVADA COUNTY (CBS13/AP) – The latest on the shooting of a search and rescue volunteer in Nevada County:
11:10 a.m.
Authorities have identified the search and rescue volunteer shot Tuesday night as 69-year-old Newcastle resident Steve Wolf.
The Placer County Sheriff's Office says Wolf has been a volunteer for more than 10 years. He has undergone surgery and his condition has been stablized, authorities say.
The search for the missing hiker is on hold while the search for the gunman continues.
Donna Nelson, assistant to Nevada County Sheriff Keith Royal, said Wednesday that the search for the 75-year-old hiker was suspended over safety concerns with a gunman on the loose.
The suspect shot and wounded a volunteer rescuer in the hip Tuesday. The rescuer, whose name has not been released, is in stable condition.
Royal said that helicopter crews are attempting to locate the shooter with heat-detecting devices.
The hiker has been missing for five days and is not believed to have any involvement in the shooting.
Searchers were looking for the hiker along the South Yuba River near the rural town of Washington, about 75 miles west of Reno, Nevada, when the shooting occurred.
A motive in the shooting was not known.
8:48 a.m.
Authorities say different groups are known to frequent the area, but no specific suspects or a person of interest in the shooting have been identified.
"There are several people we're looking at because they're known to the community and have a history of contact with law enforcement," said Nevada County Sheriff Keith Royal.
Miners protecting their claim, illegal drug trafficking organizations and "constitutionalists" are historically known to be in the general area where the shooting happened late Tuesday night.
A perimeter has been set up in the area where the shooter is most likely to be, Royal said. The area is described as very remote and rugged with steep canyons.
The search for the missing 75-year-old man has been suspended, authorities say.
7:15 a.m.
A volunteer rescuer who was shot in the hip while searching for a missing 75-year-old man in a remote Northern California area is in stable condition Wednesday.
The Sacramento Bee reports that crews worked late Tuesday to bring him to a site where a rescue helicopter could land. The volunteer's name and age were not released.
Three volunteers with the Placer County Search and Rescue team were among several groups looking for the older man reported missing along the South Yuba River near the rural town of Washington, about 75 miles west of Reno, Nevada, when the shooting occurred.
The gunman remains at large. The older man remains missing and is not believed to have any involvement in the shooting. A motive in the shooting was not known.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
6:30 a.m.
Several agencies are searching for a gunman that fired shots at a search and rescue crew in Nevada County.
The incident happened Tuesday night near Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park, near the town of Washington, where search and rescue were out looking for a missing 74-year-old man.
That's when someone opened fire, shooting a volunteer in the hip.
Helicopters from several counties responded to the incident where they helped to extricate the victim.
Now their focus is searching for the shooter.
"We also have on scene a number of helicopters; we have CHP's helicopter, Butte County Sheriff's helicopter, Placer's helicopter and also one from Sac PD," said Nevada County Sheriff Keith Royal. "The goal there is to drop people in to near where these victims are number one, and number two ... they can look for heat sources on the mountainside."
The victim was airlifted to Sutter hospital in Roseville.
His condition is unknown.
