Nathan Lamont Hill, a 52-year-old resident of Vallejo, California, tragically lost his life on November 5, 2018, in a shooting incident at the Helen Vine Recovery Center in San Rafael. The shooting occurred in the early hours of the morning, around 1:30 a.m., while patients were asleep. Hill, an employee at the recovery center, was one of three victims in the attack.
The other two victims, Anthony Dominguez Mansapit, a 32-year-old employee, and Brittney Kehaulani McCann, a 30-year-old resident of Marin City, sustained life-threatening injuries. McCann had a dating relationship with the suspect, Davance Lamar Reed, a 37-year-old transient with ties to Marin City and Vallejo.
The suspect, Davance Lamar Reed, was apprehended later that morning after a pursuit that began when law enforcement officers spotted a Hyundai Elantra without a rear license plate or left rear brake light weaving on northbound U.S. Highway 101 in Sonoma County. The pursuit ended when Reed's vehicle ran over a spike strip near Golf Course Drive. Reed was arrested on suspicion of felony evading law enforcement and vehicle code infractions. It was only after his arrest that authorities connected him to the shooting at the recovery center. Reed made admissions in jail that tied him to the attack, leading to his formal charges.
Reed faced multiple charges, including one count of murder, two counts of attempted murder, domestic violence, vehicle theft, recklessly evading police, and possession of a semi-automatic firearm by a felon. The case drew significant attention and was included in a U.S. Secret Service report on mass attacks in public spaces in 2018. During the trial, the prosecution presented evidence that Reed had a history of drug and firearms offenses in various counties, including San Francisco, Monterey, Lassen, and Nevada. Despite his defense attorney's argument that Reed's mental health history should have played a more significant role in the verdict, the jury found him guilty of all charges and concluded that he was legally sane during the attack.
The trial's outcome brought some measure of closure to the families of the victims and the staff at the Helen Vine Recovery Center. Chris Kughn, the chief executive officer of Buckelew Programs, which administers the center, expressed relief at the verdict, noting that it was a step closer to bringing closure for those affected by the traumatic event. Reed's sentencing was scheduled for March 15, 2022, where he faced the possibility of life in prison.
