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Written by: Lake County News reports

Published: 26 February 2020

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a reported drive-by shooting on Sunday morning and have taken a Clearlake man into custody in connection to the incident.

Don Adam West, 29, was arrested on Sunday afternoon, according to Lt. Rich Ward.

Ward said that on Sunday at approximately 11:16 a.m. the Clearlake Police Department requested the Lake County Sheriff’s Office respond to the 15000 block of Lakeshore Boulevard in Clearlake for two separate incidents that occurred within the unincorporated area of Lower Lake.

Deputies learned that at 10:30 a.m. that day West was alleged to have driven to a residence located in the 17000 block of Morgan Valley Road and assaulted a victim with whom he previously had a dating relationship, Ward said.

West broke through the front door of the residence and damaged property valued in excess of $500 before fleeing the location in a 2003 black Chevrolet pickup truck, Ward reported.

Ward said a resident of the home called Jose Tapia and Jose Tapia Jr. and requested they respond to assist with West.

The Tapias were driving on Main Street near Lake Street in Lower Lake when they saw West driving his truck. Ward said they flagged down West on Lake Street and pulled their 2013 black Chevrolet pickup truck along the driver’s side of West’s truck.

Ward said the Tapias reported that West brandished a black semiautomatic handgun from the open driver’s side window. The Tapias accelerated their truck away from West’s truck and heard what they believed to be two gunshots.

West was reported to have followed the Tapias through Lower Lake and into the city of Clearlake where the Tapias were able to flag down a Clearlake Police officer near the area of 40th Avenue in Clearlake, Ward said.

Approximately 15 minutes later, the Clearlake Police Department conducted an enforcement stop on West’s truck and detained West on Lakeshore Boulevard, Ward said.

Ward said deputies responded to that scene to assist with the investigation. No firearms, ammunition or spent casings were located within West’s truck.

While conducting interviews, deputies on scene learned the Tapias located what was believed to be a bullet hole within the rear passenger side quarter panel of their truck. Ward said the Tapias also provided deputies with a spent bullet casing from where they confronted West in Lower Lake. The casing was collected as evidence.

Ward said the deputies also obtained evidence that was consistent with the allegations and believed the Tapias had been shot at in Lower Lake.

As of Tuesday, no firearm has been located and the investigation is ongoing, Ward said.

Ward said that, based on statements from the parties involved and evidence collected, West was placed under arrest for felony charges of domestic violence, burglary, vandalism, assault with a deadly weapon/firearm, shooting at an occupied vehicle, personally shooting from a vehicle and assault on a person with a semiautomatic firearm.

West, who was set for arraignment this week, remained in custody on Wednesday with his bail set at $300,000. He is due to return to court on March 3, according to his booking records.

If anyone has additional information about this case or surveillance footage of this incident, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office would encourage citizens to contact Deputy Andres Fernandez at 707-262-4200 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..