After California shooting, residents seek police presence
RANCHO TEHAMA RESERVE, Calif. — Residents of a remote Northern California community terrorized by a mass shooting this week say they want more frequent patrols from sheriff’s deputies and expressed anger and frustration over seemingly being left to fend for themselves in what several called a “Wild West” atmosphere.
The Rancho Tehama Reserve homeowners’ association board was meeting Thursday to talk about more patrols, two days after 44-year-old Kevin Neal killed his wife and four others before he died in a gun battle with deputies. Neal targeted an elementary school while randomly shooting at homes and motorists in the sprawling rural subdivision about 130 miles (209 kilometres) north of Sacramento.
Board president Juan Caravez was among those complaining that deputies didn’t do enough to stop Neal despite numerous complaints from neighbours that he was shooting guns at all hours of the day and night.
“The sheriff wouldn’t do anything about it,” Caravez said. Instead, he said Tehama County Sheriff’s Department referred complaints to the homeowners’ association.