Arrest made in Lake County man’s shooting death

A 23-year-old man from Clearlake Oaks was arrested in the Thursday night shooting death of another local man, Lake County sheriff’s officials announced Friday.

The suspect, Christian Ian Michael Meiler, remained in jail Saturday with bail set at $1 million.

Deputies responded late Thursday to the area of Highway 20 and Oakgrove Avenue in Clearlake Oaks, where witnesses said the victim, later identified as Brian Thomas Hultman, 31, of Clearlake Oaks, was lying in the street with a gunshot wound to the chest. He died from his injuries at Adventist Health Hospital.

Witnesses pointed detectives to a male subject named ‘Chris’ who lived in the area and was suspected to be responsible for the slaying, the sheriff’s office reported.

Deputies located Meiler, interviewed him and witnesses and was arrested him following a search of the scene, the sheriff’s office said. He was booked on suspicion of murder and illegal possession of firearms by a convicted felon.

Witnesses to the shooting were urged to contact Detective Richard Kreutzer at 707-262-4233.