Police: Clearlake man, 82, kills girlfriend's son during late night altercation

An 82-year-old Clearlake man shot and killed his girlfriend's son during a late night altercation Wednesday on 27th Avenue, Clearlake police reported.

Stephen Wooldridge, 33, suffered a single gunshot wound to the chest and died after being transported to St. Helena Clearlake Hospital, police said. The shooter, Johnny Stevenson, was questioned but not arrested. A decision whether to file charges will be made when the investigation is concluded, police said.

The shooting, reported at 11:19 p.m., was the culmination of a conflict between Wooldridge and his mother that began earlier in the day, according to police. Police did not release the woman's name, nor divulge the nature of the conflict.

Wooldridge had been arguing with his mother on the phone and became more upset when she stopped answering his calls, police said.

Wooldridge then showed up at his mother's house, where Stevenson also resides. He was yelling and banging on the door, demanding entry, then forced his way inside through a garage door, police said. He was met by Stevenson, who had armed himself with a .22 caliber rifle, police said. Wooldridge refused to leave and threatened to beat up Stevenson, police said. He reportedly had approached Stevenson in a threatening way when Stevenson fired. Stevenson said he had cocked the gun to warn Wooldridge when it fired.

Wooldridge was alive when officers arrived and several family members and friends were present, police said. Preparations were being made at Saint Helena Clearlake Hospital to fly him to an out-of-county hospital when he died, police said.