Full Notification

On 11/18/2013, at 11:00 PM, Deputies were dispatched to respond to an armed subject threatening to kill his wife at the Riverlane Resort in Guerneville. The resort is located across the street from the Sheriff’s Office substation. The suspect’s wife, who was the reporting party, phoned Sheriff’s dispatch and was told to leave the residence immediately. She and her 30 yr old daughter arrived at the substation about a minute after making the phone call. She reported that her husband, Wayne Courtright, 59 yrs, was intoxicated, suicidal and armed with a rifle. Deputies arrived at the resort within minutes and began to set up a perimeter around the main house on the property.

About twenty minutes after their arrival, deputies reported that shots were being fired within the residence. The Sheriff’s Special Operations Unit was requested to respond, while more deputies arrived to assist with setting a perimeter around the residence. At approximately 12:00 AM, Courtright exited the front of his residence armed with a high powered rifle and began firing at the deputies. The deputies returned fire and Courtright went down. Courtright was struck at least once, however, at this time it is undetermined whether any of his wounds were self inflicted. Medical personnel had been staging nearby and responded to render aid to Courtright, who ultimately died at the scene.

Pursuant to the Sonoma County Chiefs of Police Employee Involved Fatal Incident Protocol, this case is being investigated by the Petaluma Police Department and the District Attorney’s Office.

The Sonoma County Deputies who were involved in this incident have been placed on administrative leave, which is routine for such events.

Any media inquiries for this incident should be directed to the Petaluma Department per the Critical Incident Protocol.
Press Release prepared by Sgt. Carlos Basurto
Sonoma County Case Number 131119-002