ONE DEAD, ONE WOUNDED IN ATTEMPTED POT ROBBERY

One Sacramento man is dead and three others are in custody following
an apparent home invasion robbery attempt in Laytonville Saturday
morning. One of the occupants at the home was also shot in the leg.
The investigation is still in its early phases and the Mendocino
County Sheriff's Office have released few details.

When deputies responded to the Laytonville residence following the
7:21 a.m. 9-1-1 call, they found the masked body of Timothy Burger,
21, of Sacramento, lying just outside.

The residence is located in the 1000 block off Steele Lane down a dirt
driveway. Detectives say the robbery appears to be related to
marijuana activities at the residence.

Jill Cahill, of Laytonville, who lives at the residence, had two
friends visiting at the time of the robbery. She told deputies the
three masked men broke into her home, sprayed them with pepper spray,
and then shot one of her visitors in the leg, sparking the ensuing
firefight.

She told deputies she fired at the three masked robbers with her .357
magnum pistol and believed she killed one. The other two masked men
fled on foot.

Area law enforcement located the two men believed to be involved in
the robbery several hours later walking south of Laytonville.

The two men, Christopher Allen Shinn, 19, and Tyrone Lee Bell, 18,
were arrested on suspicion of murder, robbery, participation in a
crime, burglary in the first degree and conspiracy to commit a crime.
Bail was set at $250,000.

A third suspect, 39-year-old Noah Shinn , was arrested Tuesday in
Sacramento.

Shinn's cousin came to file a missing persons report for him with the
Willits police Saturday at 6:20 p.m. when they were informed he was in
county jail.

No charges have been filed against Cahill and no details of any
marijuana-related operation at the Steele Lane residence have been
released by deputies.

Cahill was arrested in 2004 for being a felon or addict in possession
of a firearm. The charges were dismissed a month later by the district
attorney.

Shootings and killings are a growing part of the marijuana culture. A
quick internet search revealed shootings during the past months in
California, to Oregon, Michigan, Rhode Island and Florida, many
involving medical marijuana cultivation.

In September a man shot and killed while trying to steal marijuana
from a central Fresno backyard. The homeowner is in jail and is
expected to be charged with murder. He and several others living in
the house are medical marijuana patients and had a large pot garden in
back yard. Three other men took part in the attempted theft, but were
not captured. The backyard garden had hundreds of plants towering
above the six foot fence that surrounds the property.

A Jacksonville, Florida man was shot five times this past weekend as
he attempted to fight off robbers at his front door. The four or five
robbers forced their way into his home taking a play station and some
marijuana.

Salem, Oregon ; August 25

A medical marijuana user was shot at home in the leg and arm by a man
who robbed him of his marijuana Salem, Oregon in late August.

A Providence, Rhode Island man licensed to grow and use medical
marijuana remains under criminal investigation for having shot to
death an intruder in his apartment in September. He is being charged
with growing more marijuana than allowed. He was allowed 24 mature
plants but had 30 when police arrived. The masked intruder was
carrying a pellet gun which resembled a pistol. The resident shot and
killed the intruder on the second floor of his apartment. Whether the
shooter will be charged with homicide remains under investigation/ He
has been charged with manufacture of marijuana, conspiracy, and two
counts of possession of a firearm while committing a crime of
violence. Under Rhode Island law while one can possess guns at home it
is illegal to possess guns while committing a crime such as
manufacturing marijuana.

This September in Battle Creek, Michigan, two robbers broke into a
58-year-old man's home kicking the door in before shooting and beating
at about 1:45 a.m. to steal his 24 marijuana plants. The veteran, who
suffers from stomach cancer, was shot in the arm and hand before being
beaten with the hand gun.

A toddler was sleeping on the couch, but was uninjured.