louis martin
cns news & features
Covelo, Mendocino County--
In what appears to be the latest round in a long-standing family feud on the Round Valley Indian Reservation, Elvin Peters was shot in the legs last Friday night. The Peters and the Brittons are the Martins and the McCoys of the reservation near Covelo in Mendocino county.
Elvin Peters, 48, is the brother of Arylis Peters, 46, who back in May shot and killed Eugene Britton in the Covelo High School parking lot. Three hours after deputies from the Mendocino County Sheriffs Department responded to that incident, Arylis' brother Leonard, 44, was shot dead by deputies on a dirt road on the reservation.
It was alleged that Leonard Peters was carrying a rifle and opened fire on deputies. Shortly after the gunfight between deputies and Leonard Peters, one of the deputies, Bob Davis, was shot dead by an unknown assailant. A massive manhunt ensued. Later Eugene "Bear" Lincoln was charged with that murder.
Following the most recent incident, which occurred about 10 PM on Friday, 18 officers responded to the reservation. They included officers from the Mendocino County Sheriffs Office, the California Highway Patrol, the Willits Police Department, and the California Department of Forestry.
Elvin Peters was reported in stable condition at Howard Memorial Hospital by 12:30 PM on Saturday following the shooting, and so far no arrests have been made.
Captain Berle Murray of the Mendocino County Sheriffs Office would say little about the incident that drew an exceptionally large response from assorted agencies. The Sheriffs Office has some leads but is requesting anyone with information to call 463-4086.
(10/17/95)