Amber Sandhu, and Sean J Longoria

Redding

Shasta County Sheriff’s deputies on Thursday hunted for a person suspected of setting on fire and killing a 54-year-old Burney man.

Investigators called the crime "a horrific chain of events" as the family and friends of David Wicks, 54, of Burney, struggled to understand why someone would attack a man they described as a "great guy" who never had anything bad to say.

"I can't imagine somebody, knowing Dave, why would anybody do this?" said coworker Kris Cantrell, holding back tears.

Deputies spent Wednesday night into Thursday searching for the person they believe responsible, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff's Lt. Anthony Bertain said investigators don't yet know what motivated the attack.

Deputies about 7 p.m. responded to the Rocky Ledge Shell Station, about 3 miles east of central Burney on Highway 299 in the Johnson Park area, for a report of a fire at the gas station. There, medics found Wicks, who works at the store, suffering from severe burns.

Emergency workers took him via helicopter to a local hospital, where he died, Bertain said.

Sheriff's detectives reviewed video surveillance from the store, which shows an unidentified person walking in, spraying Wicks with a liquid and lighting Wicks on fire as he walks out from behind the store counter, Bertain said.

The suspect was wearing what appeared to be yellow rain gear over a black hoodie and gloves, according to a surveillance image provided by detectives.

Deputies have no other description beyond what's shown in surveillance footage, though they did find a bicycle nearby.

Rocky Ledge Shell Station is owned by Burney Fuels, LLC, a Redding-based corporation whose owner, Jaspal Singh, visited the store along with co-owner Devinder Sahota on Thursday morning.

"We've never been in a situation like this before," Sahota said. "Our primary goal is to console Sonia," who is Wicks' wife and manages the Shell station.

The owners have known the Wickses for about a year, Sahota said. He described David Wicks as "the best" and said both he and Sonia Wicks are "like family."

Friends of Wicks also gathered outside the station Thursday morning to pay their respects.

One, Matt Blowers, remembered Wicks as a "very nice guy" who always had a smile on his face.

Truck driver Mike Gulizia regularly stopped by the station specifically for David Wicks, though he hadn't for about six months, he said.

Gulizia was visibly shaken when he stopped by the station Thursday morning to say 'hi' to a man he called a friend.

"Kind of makes you think a little, right before the holidays too," Gulizia said.

Secret Witness of Shasta County is offering $10,000 for information leading to the arrest or conviction of David Wicks’ killer. Singh said he's working to add to that reward.

Anyone with information on Wicks' killing is asked to call the Sheriff's Office Major Crimes Unit at 245-6135 or email mcu@co.shasta.ca.us. Anonymous tips can also be left with Secret Witness at 243-2319 or scsecretwitness.com.