The 15-year-old son of a Danville (CA) doctor fatally shot during an off-roading trip in Sierra County has been found safe, and a suspect also sought in two other shootings was arrested after a chase Sunday, authorities said.


Danville doctor fatally shot during off-road Sierra trip with son

Would really like to know more about this one. What a waste. How could anyone on an outing with their son have deserved that. Going forward the perp will end up having more rights than the traumatized Son.

Such a sad story.

I'd like to know details on this so if anyone hears more or has a link, please post.


Eddie

I hope the suspect rots. I cant imagine what that young man is going through. So sad. May the father Rest In Peace. Makes me a little nervous now, meeting strangers while off the grid. Stay safe!

It's California. I give it 50/50 that he's going to be out in less than 5 years.

Here is a link to the Sierra County Sheriffs Office FB page with more details:
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Sierra County Sheriff's Office
July 4 at 4:24 AM ·

UPDATE: July 5, 2020:

On July 4th, the sheriff’s office, with the assistance of multiple law enforcement agencies, located the missing juvenile who fled from the shooting. The juvenile was found in good health and did not need medical treatment.

Shortly after locating the juvenile, law enforcement officers encountered the suspected shooting suspect driving a side-by-side off highway vehicle. Officers attempted to stop the suspect, but he fled south on Saddleback Road towards Downieville. The suspect was stopped and arrested on Saddleback Road approximately one mile north of Highway 49.

The Sheriff’s Office anticipates releasing a detailed press release in the coming days.

On July 3, 2020, at about 1600 hours, the Sierra County Sheriff’s Office received information that two persons were shot in a remote area of northwestern Sierra County. While deputies were responding, we received information that both shooting victims were being transported out of the area by private vehicle. Both shooting victims made it to the Cal-Ida area, where they received initial medical treatment. Both victims were transported to the hospital by helicopter with non-life-threatening injuries.

Shortly after learning the two victims were being transported out, the sheriff’s office received a call of a third shooting victim in the same general area. The caller stated they fled the area after the shooting, and are now lost. Deputies were able to make it to the third victim, who was found deceased. In addition to searching for the suspect, deputies are searching for the lost juvenile.

This is an active and ongoing investigation and search. The sheriff’s office has reached out to the neighboring law enforcement agencies for assistance.

Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to please contact the Sierra County Sheriff’s Office at (530) 289-3700.

Incredibly sad. I always tell my kids what my dad always told me. when we are in the wilderness dont worry about the wild animals be vary off strangers.

Yikes… very sad. I wonder what happened.

I used to do a ton of rural / off-grid camping… sometimes by myself and I’ll admit that being approached by a vehicle in the middle of nowhere has always been a bit nerve wracking.

Most all the interactions I have had were friendly, usually just a curious passerby or someone asking for help (like a tow strap or jump) but you never know how these things can go.

Stories like this remind me that it's good to be wary.

I never understood why a buddy of mine always took a gun when camping. Now I know. Although it probably wouldn't have made a difference in this case.

2 legged predators are always your biggest threat in the middle of nowhere.

Most do, and it is to expected. I just assume everyone is armed when camping, because they usually are.

What should happen to him, and what probably will, are likely diametrically opposed.

I suspect he'll be given counseling for the traumatic experience he's been through, then coddled until an early release...

Suspect In Sierra Co. Shooting-Spree That Killed East Bay Doctor Terrorized Nearby Campsite

Katie NielsenJuly 8, 2020 at 9:04 pm
BUTTE COUNTY (KPIX) – More details are emerging about exactly what happened leading up to the ambush shooting of a East Bay doctor and two others over the 4th of July holiday weekend, and the suspect in custody.

It happened near Poker Flat about 10 miles outside Downieville on Friday afternoon, July 3.

Dr. Ari Gershman of Danville was killed in the attacks and two others were injured.

KPIX 5 spoke with a witness who says he was nearby when the shooting happened. He did not want to reveal is name or show his face because he fears for his family’s safety. He says they have a handful of mining claims right outside Poker Flat, and that’s why he was at the top of the hill as people came running out of the camping area.

“Those people were pretty close to where the shootings happened. They were terrified and they said, ‘you’ve got to get out of here. There’s an active shooter,’” he said.

He says the people coming out of the campground told him it all started when a man drove into the area in on an off-road vehicle and started going through people’s campsites.

“There had been a man who was down in Poker Flat rummaging through another camper’s items and that when he questioned him, he pulled out his 9mm and shot the guy in the arm,” he said.

Campers said immediately after the first shooting, the suspect drove off up the hill and that is where the second person – a woman – was shot.

“She said she saw him coming out in the side-by-side and she motioned to her dog, you know, get out of the way, he’s coming up, and that he didn’t say anything. That she was standing there and that as he drove by, he just aimed over and shot her in the arm,” he said.

Investigators with the Sierra County Sheriff’s Department say not long after the second shooting, the gunman drove up behind Dr. Ari Gershman and his 15-year-old son Jack who were stopped in their Jeep and started shooting when Dr. Gershman asked him for directions.

Gershman was killed and his son Jack ran for his life. He was not hurt, but was lost in the woods for 30 hours before rescuers found him by tracing his cell phone signal.

“Is there something more that could have been done in this case, and quite frankly, there didn’t seem to be,” says Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey. He says the shooting suspect, now identified as 40-year-old John Thomas Conway from Oroville, had some run-ins with the law recently.

He was arrested in 2019 after a family dispute and earlier this year, he was arrested again and accused of stealing a similar utility terrain vehicle to the one used during the shootings.

“There was indications he had some mental health issues though,” says Ramsey.

According to Ramsey, the suspect was also battling addiction issues to methamphetamine and alcohol.

The District Attorney also says Conway was accused of violating his probation and a bench warrant was issued about a month ago. He says due to COVID-19 concerns, probation officers weren’t as active trying to go out and make those kinds of arrests.

Suspect In Sierra Co. Shooting-Spree That Killed East Bay Doctor Terrorized Nearby Campsite – CBS San Francisco

Here’s a good report. It turns out the suspect is a fugitive on the counties most wanted list.

'Most wanted' suspect arrested in fatal shooting of doctor

“In August 2019, the Butte County Sheriff’s Office named Conway as one of its most wanted fugitives for a felony warrant charging him with vandalism, battery and two counts of making terrorist threats.”

California.