Gunman shoots two in Colusa

A Colusa County sheriff's sergeant was shot Saturday by a man who also shot his grandmother during the firefight, Sheriff Scott Marshall said.

Sgt. Mark Troughton responded to a domestic dispute call in the 3500 block of Highway 45, just north of Colusa, Marshall said.

Immediately after Troughton contacted Helga Marez, who had made the call to the Sheriff's Department, her grandson, 25-year-old Richard Carl Marez, opened fire on Troughton with a 9mm semi-automatic, according to the sheriff.

Marshall said Troughton, 44, who has been with the Sheriff's Department for more than 20 years, arrived at 5:26 p.m. The shooting began about a minute later.

"I don't know there was much discussion," the sheriff said.

Troughton and Helga Marez were "in the front entryway," Marshall said. "He's firing from another room at them and struck both of them in the vestibule entryway at the front door."

Troughton pushed the woman out of the way, "and he jumps around the corner and starts returning fire," the sheriff said.

Marez fired 10 times, Marshall said, striking Troughton in the arm and gunbelt, and his grandmother in the leg. Troughton returned fire six times while taking cover, the sheriff said.

A deputy who arrived helped Troughton drag the woman out of the house.

The bullet that hit Troughton in the gunbelt took the snap off his handcuff case and embedded it in a wall, the sheriff said.

"You know, the natives are restless sometimes," the sheriff said. "The bad guy is in jail. Our guy will recover. I don't want anybody hurt or killed on my watch."

Within minutes, the manhunt for the gunman was on. Sheriff's deputies, Colusa police officers, California Highway Patrol officers and Fish and Wildlife Service officers joined the search.

Marez was captured at 5:43 p.m. behind the house near the Sacramento River, Marshall said. The 9 mm was recovered.

He was booked into Colusa County Jail on two counts of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer and assault on a person with a semi-automatic weapon. The bail amount wasn't available.

Marez has prior arrests in Colusa County for drunken driving, evading a peace officer and being under the influence of a controlled substance, the sheriff said.

Helga Marez was treated at Enloe Medical Center. Her condition was unknown.

Troughton was taken to Colusa Regional Medical Center, where Marshall said he is in good condition.

A Colusa County sheriff's deputy was last involved in a shooting in October 2004. A deputy fired on Michael McDermott, who pointed a handgun at him.

Marshall said he couldn't recall the last time a Colusa sheriff's deputy was shot.

"So long ago it would take some research," he said. "I've been here 36-plus years, and I can't remember. We had one killed in 1984 by being run over by a train."

Contact Appeal-Democrat reporter Robert LaHue at 749-4713 or rlahue@appealdemocrat.com. Tri-County Newspapers reporter Rob Parsons contributed to this story.