Mendocino County woman fatally shoots herself as deputies try to talk her down

A Ukiah-area woman shot and killed herself outside her former boyfriend’s home early Sunday morning as sheriff’s deputies drawn by an earlier fight between the couple tried to talk her down, authorities said.

The 25-year-old woman was distraught over the custody of a child she had in common with the boyfriend, Mendocino County Sheriff’s Capt. Greg Van Patten said. Three deputies responding to the altercation found her in her car preparing to leave the man’s house on Eastside Road outside Willits, where she had physically assaulted him, Van Patten said.

The woman, whose name has not been released, brandished a handgun at the deputies as they approached her in the driveway, and they retreated, Van Patten said.

They could see her in the car trying to release the safety catch on the gun and talked to her, trying to de-escalate the situation, but she turned away and shot herself, the captain said.

The deputies provided medical aid but were unable to save the woman. Her name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, who live outside the area, Van Patten said.

Van Patten said he did not know what custody arrangements exist for the child at issue, but said the woman had gone to her ex-boyfriend’s home to try to get the child, resulting in the fight.

Earlier in the day, the Ukiah Police Department had taken a report citing concerns about whether she could pose a risk to herself or someone else, and as a result issued a bulletin to surrounding law enforcement agencies. It was not clear what time the bulletin was issued.

You can reach Staff Writer Mary Callahan at 707-521-5249 or mary.callahan@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @MaryCallahanB.