Suspected murder in Lake County intentional hit-run fatality

A 62-year-old Clearlake man was arrested and jailed Tuesday on suspicion of killing an acquaintance by intentionally driving into him during a pre-dawn argument, Lake County sheriff’s officials said.

Thomas Andrew Magee is being held on $1 million bail at the Lake County Jail, accused of the murder of Joseph Symond Jackson, 40, of Lucerne.

The men, who recently became acquainted, were arguing about whether one had taken property belonging to the other man, said Lt. Corey Paulich, who oversees the investigations bureau. County detectives are still investigating the details of their argument, he said, noting that Magee recently moved to the area from around Redwood City.

The men had been together at Lucerne Harbor Park on Clear Lake’s northeastern shore in Lucerne before 1:30 a.m. Tuesday when they left the park and started arguing, officials said.

Jackson was on foot and Magee was behind the wheel of his white 2001 Chevrolet van. As Jackson walked away from Magee across rural Highway 20, Magee drove into him with his van and kept going, Paulich said.

Several other people who had been at the park, including some who knew the two men and were aware of the argument, called for help and told deputies and CHP officers the driver had hit the man on purpose, then drove away.

Jackson was taken to Sutter Lakeside Hospital in Lakeport and died shortly after arriving, officials said.

Officials issued a law enforcement bulletin to watch for Magee and his van.

At about 1:50 a.m., a CHP officer spotted the van on Highway 53 near Highway 20 in Clearlake Oaks. Magee was pulled over and taken into custody. Jail booking records listed Magee’s occupation as a painter.

Paulich asked anyone with information about the case to contact county Detective Jerry Pfann at 707-262-4236 or jerry.pfann@lakecountyca.gov.

Staff Writer Julie Johnson contributed to this story. You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 707-521-5412 or randi.rossmann@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter@rossmannreport.