Sheriff’s Office: Mendocino County murder suspect says he was victim of shooting
CASPAR — A Mendocino County man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after allegedly running down a motorcyclist with his truck, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
CHP officers were dispatched to the 1500 block of Caspar Road, near the Pacifica Drive intersection, around 6 AM on Christmas Eve to investigate a reported traffic collision.
A lone male victim, identified as 48-year-old Mark Hutchinson of Willits, was pronounced dead at the scene. A second man, identified as 35-year-old Shayne Tyler Wrede, was also present.
Authorities say Wrede had reported being the victim of a shooting earlier that day. Police were later dispatched to an apartment complex in Fort Bragg, where they say they found evidence consistent with a shooting.
Through interviews with witnesses and review of surveillance footage, detectives were able to piece together a rough chain of events. They say it appears that Wrede and Hutchinson had engaged in a roughly 4.5-mile chase, passing through Fort Bragg and continuing south onto Caspar Road, occasionally reaching up to 90 MPH, until Wrede allegedly struck Hutchinson’s motorcycle.
Medical examiners say Hutchinson died as a result of being thrown from his motorcycle.
Wrede was ultimately arrested on suspicion of murder and violation of his Post-Release Community Supervision designation. He remains in custody on $500,000 bail.
