SCSO: Domestic violence victim shoots and kills abuser in Cottonwood

The Shasta County Sheriff's Office says a victim of ongoing physical abuse shot and killed her abuser Sunday night in Cottonwood.

According to the sheriff's office, deputies were called to the 15000 block of Gas Point Road around 9:45 p.m. Sunday for a gunshot victim.

When deputies arrived they found Nicolas Hebein dead inside the home from a gunshot wound. Deputies are not disclosing the name of the person responsible for shooting Hebein because they say they are a domestic violence victim.

Deputies say the victim told them Hebein was physically and mentally abusive and had made threats to kill her while holding a gun. During a violent struggle for control of the gun, Hebein was shot and killed.

The victim was taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries connected to physical abuse.

During the investigation, detectives discovered that Hebein was prohibited from possessing firearms due to his past criminal history. Additionally, Hebein’s firearm was a home assembled, un-serialized firearm, commonly referred to as a “ghost gun.”

The domestic violence victim has not been arrested as a result of this incident and the Major Crimes Unit will be presenting the information discovered at the conclusion of the investigation to the Shasta County District Attorney’s Office for review.

The Major Crimes Unit is urging anyone who has information regarding this incident to contact the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit at (530) 245-6135 or by email at mcu@co.shasta.ca.us.