The Lassen County Sheriff’s Office received a call Saturday evening of a male shot in an alley in Westwood.
The California Highway Patrol arrived on the scene, secured the area, and attended medical attention to the victim, identified as Austin Andrew Howell. Along with THE CHP and Lassen County Sheriff’s office, Engines from Cal-Fire, Westwood Fire, and Peninsula Fire Department ambulance responded and attempted life-saving efforts on Howell for 30 minutes, then announced Howell was deceased from the abdomen(Ab do men) gunshot wound.
The Lassen County Sheriffs’ office arrested Melanie Hines, age 41, of Westwood, for second-degree murder to Howell. Hines who was previously arrested in December 2021 for possession of drugs and Parphanellia sale.
Melanie Hines has a bail set at 1,000,000
