- LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
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Authorities arrest man for homicide in Clearlake Oaks shooting

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said it has arrested a Clearlake Oaks man for a late Thursday night shooting that left another man dead, with the agency continuing to seek witnesses.
Christian Ian Michael Meiler, 23, was arrested early Friday morning in the case, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities believe it was Meiler who fatally shot another Clearlake Oaks resident, 31-year-old Brian Thomas Hultman, late Thursday night.
At approximately 10 p.m. Thursday Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to the area of Highway 20 and Oakgrove Avenue in Clearlake Oaks for a report of shots fired, according to Sgt. Corey Paulich.
Paulich said that while the deputies were en route they received updated information that there was a male lying in the street with a gunshot wound to the chest.
When deputies arrived they located the male victim – later identified as Hultman – with an apparent gunshot wound, according to Paulich.
Hultman was transported to Adventist Health Clear Lake Hospital in Clearlake where he succumbed to his injuries, Paulich said.
Paulich said the scene was secured and Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit detectives responded to the scene.
Deputies received information from witnesses that a male subject by the name of Chris, who lived in the area, may have been responsible for the shooting. Paulich said deputies subsequently contacted and detained Meiler.
After searching the scene, interviewing witnesses as well as Meiler, detectives placed Meiler under arrest for the shooting death of Hultman, Paulich said.
Paulich told Lake County News that it was Meiler’s Ford Explorer that was parked next to the Red and White Market, its lights still on and driver’s side door open, just down Highway 20 from where Hultman had been found. Deputies had originally contacted Meiler in that vehicle.
Detectives secured and photographed the vehicle at the scene early Friday morning, as Lake County News has reported.
Meiler was transported to the Lake County Jail where he was booked for murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, Paulich said.
Meiler’s booking sheet showed he is being held on $1 million bail, and is scheduled to appear in court for arraignment on Tuesday.
Paulich said detectives believe there may be other witnesses to this incident who haven’t come forward.
The sheriff’s office urges anyone with information regarding this investigation to contact Det. Richard Kreutzer at 707-262-4233 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
