Cherie Lash Rhoades

Mass Murderer

Cherie Lash-Rhoades and the 2014 Cedarville Rancheria Massacre

Background

Cherie Lash-Rhoades was a former chairperson of the Cedarville Rancheria, a federally recognized Northern Paiute tribe in Modoc County, California. On February 20, 2014, the 44-year-old carried out a mass shooting inside the tribe's administrative office at 300 West First Street in Alturas, California. Four people were killed and two others were seriously wounded. The attack occurred during a meeting concerning Lash-Rhoades and her adult son, who were facing possible eviction from tribal housing. Lash-Rhoades had previously been removed from her leadership position amid an increasingly bitter dispute over tribal government, housing and money. Authorities said she was also under investigation concerning tens of thousands of dollars in allegedly missing tribal funds.

The Tribal Eviction Meeting

Members of the Cedarville Rancheria gathered at the tribal office on the afternoon of February 20, 2014. The meeting was intended to address whether Lash-Rhoades and her son should be removed from tribal housing. Several of the people in the room were members of her own family, illustrating how deeply the dispute had divided the small tribal community. During the meeting, Lash-Rhoades suddenly produced a 9mm semiautomatic handgun and began firing at the people seated around her. Witnesses described a rapid and chaotic attack inside the relatively small office. She reportedly moved around the room while shooting specific people at close range. Six people were struck by gunfire. Four suffered fatal wounds, while two others survived despite being seriously injured. Lash-Rhoades continued attacking even after her firearm ran out of ammunition.

The Knife Attack and Arrest

After exhausting the ammunition in her handgun, Lash-Rhoades went into the office kitchen and obtained a large butcher knife. She then attacked at least one of the wounded survivors with the knife. Reports indicated that the victim had already been shot before being stabbed. People outside the office heard the gunfire and called law enforcement. Alturas police officers and other emergency personnel rushed to the building. Lash-Rhoades eventually emerged from the office while still carrying the knife. Officers confronted her and took her into custody outside the building. Police secured the handgun and knife as evidence. Emergency responders entered the office and found multiple victims throughout the meeting area. Four people were pronounced dead, while the two survivors were transported for emergency medical treatment. ...

Confirmed Victims: (4)

Glenn Calonicco 30 yr old Male

Woman arrested after four shot dead at Native American ...