Rurik Davis, aged 50, tragically lost his life on February 20, 2014, in Alturas, California, during a violent incident at the Cedarville Rancheria tribal headquarters. The incident occurred during a meeting concerning the eviction of Cherie Lash Rhoades, the former chairwoman of the tribe, and her son from tribal land. Rhoades, who had been under federal investigation for allegedly embezzling at least $50,000 in federal grants intended for the tribe, opened fire during the meeting. She killed four people, including her brother Rurik Davis, her niece Angel Penn, and her nephew Glenn Calonicco. Sheila Lynn Russo, a tribal administrator, was also among the victims. Two other individuals were critically wounded in the attack.
The violence erupted as Rhoades, armed with two semi-automatic pistols, began shooting systematically. After exhausting her ammunition, she continued her assault with a butcher knife, stabbing one of the wounded victims. The attack was halted when a blood-covered woman managed to escape and alert authorities at the nearby City Hall. Rhoades was apprehended outside the building, still clutching a knife, and was subdued by a Rancheria employee before being arrested by the police.
Following her arrest, Cherie Lash Rhoades was charged with multiple counts, including homicide, attempted murder, child endangerment, and brandishing a weapon. The investigation revealed that Rhoades had been recently ousted from her position as the tribe's chairwoman and was facing eviction due to the alleged embezzlement. The federal investigation into the missing funds was ongoing at the time of the shooting. The Cedarville Rancheria, a small federally recognized tribe with only 35 members, was deeply affected by the tragedy, which highlighted the tensions and challenges within the community.
The legal proceedings against Rhoades culminated in her being found guilty on all counts related to the mass murder. The case drew significant media attention, shedding light on the broader issues of governance, financial management, and internal conflicts within small tribal communities. The tragic loss of Rurik Davis and the other victims underscored the devastating impact of violence and the importance of addressing underlying issues to prevent such incidents in the future.
