Harley Wayne Hammers Jr., aged 37, tragically lost his life on September 3, 2014, in Fieldbrook, California. The incident occurred at a property in Fieldbrook, where Hammers and Angel Robin Tully, also 37, were fatally shot. The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call reporting shots fired and a deceased female at the scene. Upon arrival, deputies found Hammers suffering from gunshot wounds and transported him to Mad River Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Tully was declared deceased at the scene.
The investigation quickly identified Jason Michael Arreaga, a 29-year-old resident of Lucerne, California, as the primary suspect. Arreaga was arrested on September 4, 2014, after being spotted driving southbound on US 101. He was charged with two counts of murder and held on a one million dollar bail. During the trial, Arreaga pleaded not guilty and testified that Hammers' estranged wife, Shavonne Hammers, was the actual shooter. Shavonne, who was granted immunity by the prosecution, testified that Arreaga shot her estranged husband and Tully following a day of drug-fueled interactions and an altercation between the groups.
The trial faced significant challenges, with the jury deadlocking 9-3 in favor of guilt, leading to a hung jury. A new trial date was set for December 14, 2015. The case highlighted the complexities of witness testimonies and the difficulties in securing a unanimous verdict in such cases. The legal proceedings and investigations surrounding the deaths of Harley Wayne Hammers Jr. and Angel Robin Tully underscore the tragic nature of the incident and the ongoing quest for justice.
