2014 Cedarville Rancheria tribal office shooting

Mass shooting in California, US 2014 Cedarville Rancheria tribal office shooting Cedarville Rancheria tribal headquarters300 W 1st StAlturas, California, US 2014 2 20 Mass shooting mass murder familicide stabbing yes Tribe's attempt to evict her from her tribal home Death First-degree murder with special circumstances (4 counts)Attempted murder (2 counts) 41.4839 -120.5452 inline,title 14 * 9mm Lorcin semi-automatic pistol 9mm Taurus semi-automatic pistolMarch Ray A. Mass Murder in California's Empty Quarter: A Tale of Tribal Treachery at the Cedarville Rancheria October 1, 2020 University of Nebraska Press 978-1496217561 Lincoln, Nebraska, United States October 1, 2020 2 en Knife 4 2 Cherie Lash Rhoades On February 20, 2014, a stabbing attack and mass shooting occurred at Cedarville Rancheria's tribal headquarters in Alturas, California, United States. 44-year-old Cherie Lash Rhoades, a recently ousted tribal chairwoman, was attending an eviction hearing at the office against her and her son when she opened fire with two handguns, killing four people, including three people from her family, and wounding two others. After one of her handguns jammed, she used a knife from the office kitchen to stab one of the already wounded victims and attempt to stab another victim. In April 2017, Rhoades was sentenced to death for the murders. Background and embezzlement investigation The Cedarville Rancheria is a federally recognized tribe based in Cedarville which had 35 registered members at the time of the shooting.February 24, 2014 Tribe's lawyer: Eviction related to missing funds https://www.kcra.com/article/tribe-s-lawyer-eviction-related-to-missing-funds/6411684 January 12, 2026 KCRA-TV The Rancheria are a branch of the Northern Paiute people.Cedarville Rancheria, California https://www.whose.land/fr/communities/cedarville-rancheria-california July 2, 2026 Whose Land The Rancheria owned 26 acres of land on the outskirts of Cedarville, California, where 14 adult members of the tribe lived and received more than $80,000 annually from casino profits. Although the Rancheria did not own or operate a casino, the tribe received $1.1 million in gambling revenue from casino-operating tribes.Barnard Jeff February 25, 2014 Ex-tribal leader wears bulletproof vest to court https://lasvegassun.com/news/2014/feb/25/ex-tribal-leader-wears-bulletproof-vest-court/ January 12, 2026 Las Vegas Sun Associated Press The members resided in nine small houses clustered around a small playground. The tribe also owned a gas station and mini-mart business called Rabbit Traxx.Juillerat Lee October 27, 2020 Book details Alturas mass shooting https://www.heraldandnews.com/news/local_news/book-details-alturas-mass-shooting/article_39a223c1-3508-531a-b504-f836a5a8ec08.html January 12, 2026 Herald and News In mid-2009, the tribe purchased the building where the headquarters would eventually be located in a residential area of Alturas, located a block away from the Alturas Police Department.KNIGHTON v. CEDARVILLE RANCHERIA OF NORTHERN PAIUTE INDIANS (2019) https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/us-9th-circuit/1994361.html January 12, 2026 FindLaw The headquarters also had a daycare center.Willon Phil Dolan Maura Gold Scott February 21, 2014 Rural area rocked by deadly shooting at tribal meeting https://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-tribal-slayings-20140222-story.html live https://web.archive.org/web/20251103163925/https://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-tribal-slayings-20140222-story.html November 3, 2025 July 2, 2026 Los Angeles Times Cherie Rhoades was the tribal chairwoman and her son was a vice chairman when the pair were ousted from their positions three weeks prior to the attack after coming under federal investigation for embezzling at least $50,000 from the tribe. As a result of her removal, Rhoades would lose $15,000 to $20,000 in quarterly benefits.May 13, 2016 Alleged mass shooter to stand trial for murder in tribal dispute https://krcrtv.com/archive/alleged-mass-shooter-to-stand-trial-for-murder-in-tribal-dispute January 14, 2026 KRCR-TV In 2012, the tribe received $50,399 from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development for tribal housing, although it was not confirmed if the grant was part of the embezzlement scheme. The Rancheria did not have its own court system, and in order to conduct Rhoades and her son's hearing, the tribe contracted an attorney and judge to conduct the proceedings.March Ray A. Mass Murder in California's Empty Quarter October 1, 2020 University of Nebraska Press 978-1496217561 Lincoln, Nebraska, United States October 1, 2020 35 en Attack The day before the shooting, Cherie Rhoades asked two of her nephews to clean her two semi-automatic 9mm handguns. Rhoades had acquired one of the guns as a Mother's Day gift from her husband, and she had never fired either prior to the shooting. Rhoades told her nephews that she was planning on going target shooting above the Rancheria in Cedarville or selling the guns to a friend.March Ray A. Mass Murder in California's Empty Quarter: A Tale of Tribal Treachery at the Cedarville Rancheria October 1, 2020 University of Nebraska Press 978-1496217561 Lincoln, Nebraska, United States October 1, 2020 2 en On the day of the attack, Rhoades and her son were due to attend a tribal hearing at Cedarville Rancheria's headquarters in Alturas, where the tribe would decide whether the pair would be evicted from tribal housing and lose $80,000 in annual payouts from gambling revenue. Rhoades met her son and his family at a local Subway in Alturas, where her son told her that he would not be attending the eviction hearing at the advice of his attorney. While at the Subway, Rhoades' nephew called her and told her that the tribe had hired a judge, the first time that the tribe had ever done so in its history, and according to one of the survivors of the shooting, the judge had been hired to avoid directly confronting Rhoades' "dominating personality".March Ray A. Mass Murder in California's Empty Quarter: A Tale of Tribal Treachery at the Cedarville Rancheria October 1, 2020 University of Nebraska Press 978-1496217561 Lincoln, Nebraska, United States October 1, 2020 1–2 en Patricia Lenzi was the judge that had been hired, and she was a member of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe of New York, and a California licensed attorney and tribal judge in Arizona and New York. Lenzi had suggested to the Rancheria to delay the hearing so that she could attend the hearing in-person, but the tribe denied the request, and she instead took part in the hearing via speaker phone.March Ray A. Mass Murder in California's Empty Quarter: A Tale of Tribal Treachery at the Cedarville Rancheria October 1, 2020 University of Nebraska Press 978-1496217561 Lincoln, Nebraska, United States October 1, 2020 3 enMarch Ray A. Mass Murder in California's Empty Quarter: A Tale of Tribal Treachery at the Cedarville Rancheria October 1, 2020 University of Nebraska Press 978-1496217561 Lincoln, Nebraska, United States October 1, 2020 4 en Rhoades' son hugged her and told her that he had an appointment at a health center and that he'd see her after the meeting.March Ray A. Mass Murder in California's Empty Quarter: A Tale of Tribal Treachery at the Cedarville Rancheria October 1, 2020 University of Nebraska Press 978-1496217561 Lincoln, Nebraska, United States October 1, 2020 1–2 en Glenn Calonico, one of Rhoades' nephews, had shown one of Rhoades' nieces just prior to the start of the hearing a letter in which he alleged that Rhoades had abused one of his children. Inside the conference room of the tribal headquarters where the eviction hearing would be held, a belated baby shower had taken place for 19-year-old Angel Penn and her newborn son. As such, the conference room was filled with baby shower-related items and gifts. Rhoades concealed the handguns in the pockets of her shorts outside the tribal headquarters and smoked cigarettes and drank coffee while waiting outside to be invited in for the hearing. One of her nephews gave her an envelope which contained her appeal about her ousting and she was told that it had been denied and told to wait outside. After returning from inside, the nephew told Rhoades that they were ready for her, and she entered without being checked for weapons. Rhoades' son, who had a concealed weapon permit, had been searched for weapons the previous time he visited the headquarters. Rhoades first entered the staff bathroom, before entering the conference room where the hearing would be held. After entering, Rhoades braced a knee against the "defense chair" and said she was cold, and told someone to close the windows facing the street. Everyone in attendance, except for the nephew who had invited her inside and given her the envelope, was sat at the conference table. Lenzi began the hearing and asked Rhoades several questions. After Lenzi said that there was no way for Rhoades to appeal her eviction, Rhoades claimed there was a provision in the tribal constitution which said that she could appeal to the community council if she was evicted by the executive committee. According to the tribe's constitution, a member could only appeal to the community council if they were dis-enrolled from the tribe.March Ray A. Mass Murder in California's Empty Quarter: A Tale of Tribal Treachery at the Cedarville Rancheria October 1, 2020 University of Nebraska Press 978-1496217561 Lincoln, Nebraska, United States October 1, 2020 4–6 en After this verbal dispute between Lenzi and Rhoades, she stood up and leaned over to her brother Rurik Davis, and Davis leaned over to her. Rhoades then took out a handgun and shot Davis in the head once, killing him. After shooting Davis, Rhoades opened fire at others who were sat at the conference table. As she shot, Rhoades yelled that she wasn't going to let anyone leave the room alive. Rhoades shot Penn once in the chest, fatally wounding her, and Penn fell over her son, shielding him from Rhoades. Rhoades also shot Calonico and Sheila Russo, a non-Native who worked at the office. Russo had grabbed a member of the tribe and thrown them to the floor to protect them before she was shot in the back of the head and landed on top of them. Russo was not instantly killed, and the survivor underneath her recalled hearing her gasping for breath before dying. Rhoades' first gun jammed, and she fetched a knife from the headquarters' kitchen, which she used to attempt to stab one of the wounded victims, who had been shot four times and was hiding underneath the conference table. The wounded victim prevented Rhoades from stabbing her, but suffered cuts to her hands. After attempting to stab one of the victims, Rhoades then used her other gun to fatally shoot the wounded Calonico, who pleaded with Rhoades to stop, and she shot him repeatedly, eventually killing him with two shots to the chest. As Rhoades shot Calonico, the victim who Rhoades had attempted to stab fled the conference room. Another wounded victim had escaped earlier after being shot once and evading Rhoades around a pillar.March Ray A. Mass Murder in California's Empty Quarter: A Tale of Tribal Treachery at the Cedarville Rancheria October 1, 2020 University of Nebraska Press 978-1496217561 Lincoln, Nebraska, United States October 1, 2020 6–9 en An uninjured female survivor, who was covered in blood, escaped past Rhoades and ran two blocks to Alturas city hall (which also served as the headquarters of the police station). A city employee who was present when the survivor ran into city hall said that the woman screamed for help upon entering the building and told them that another woman had opened fire and was indiscriminately shooting people. She and another employee then ran down a hallway to the police station to inform law enforcement. The tribe's environmental resource coordinator had been monitoring the cameras positioned throughout the headquarters when Rhoades opened fire, and he tackled Rhoades and held her down until police officers arrived on scene and took her into custody.March Ray A. Mass Murder in California's Empty Quarter: A Tale of Tribal Treachery at the Cedarville Rancheria October 1, 2020 University of Nebraska Press 978-1496217561 Lincoln, Nebraska, United States October 1, 2020 9–10 en Victims A total of four people, three of whom were Rhoades' family members, were killed in the attack, including one who was also stabbed, and two others were wounded. 50-year-old Rurik Davis was Rhoades' brother and was serving as interim tribal chairman when he was killed with a single shot to the head.April 10, 2017 Ex-California tribal leader sentenced to death in killings https://www.ksl.com/article/43824938 January 14, 2026 KSL-TV Associated Press Rhoades also killed her 19-year-old niece, Angel Penn, with a single shot to the chest. Penn was holding her newborn baby on her lap, who was uninjured in the attack, when she was shot. Rhoades' 30-year-old nephew, Glenn Calonico, was shot eight times and stabbed once, including two shots to the chest that caused his death. Also killed was 47-year-old tribal administrator Sheila Russo, the only non-Native victim, who was shot twice and killed by a gunshot wound to the head.March 20, 2014 Authorities were warned about ex-Cedarville Rancheria leader https://indianz.com/News/2014/03/20/authorities-were-warned-about.asp January 14, 2026 Indianz.comMarch Ray A. Mass Murder in California's Empty Quarter: A Tale of Tribal Treachery at the Cedarville Rancheria October 1, 2020 University of Nebraska Press 978-1496217561 Lincoln, Nebraska, United States 14 The two surviving injured victims were identified as two of Rhoades' other nieces, who were shot four times and once respectively. Rhoades also attempted to stab the surviving niece who had been shot multiple times.Comstock Nicole McDonald Jan January 5, 2017 Jury Approves Death Penalty for Convicted Alturas Mass Shooter Cherie Rhoades https://fox40.com/news/local-news/jury-approves-death-penalty-for-convicted-alturas-mass-shooter-cherie-rhoades/ January 14, 2026 KTXL Perpetrator thumb|Mug shot of Rhoades after her arrestCherie Lash Rhoades (born December 13, 1969) was raised off-reservation in the Sacramento metropolitan area as the youngest of five children. Rhoades and her siblings were not raised with tribal culture. Rhoades' mother, Virginia Sweeney, dropped out of school in eighth grade and had her first child when she was 16 years old. When Rhoades was 11-years-old, she was raped by a 23-year-old man. The rape was not reported, and she eventually had a three-year relationship with the man. Rhoades was expelled from ninth grade after hitting a teacher who refused to let her play volleyball, and she was transferred to an alternative school, where she struggled academically. At age 21, Rhoades earned a general education diploma (GED) and had her first son with a man who was around thirty years older than her and married. After earning her GED, Rhoades became briefly homeless before moving in with her parents. Sometime after moving in with her parents, she entered into a relationship with a man who was 42 years older than her, and after nine years together they married. In 1993, after her mother moved to Cedarville Rancheria, she and her husband joined her at the ranchería, with her brother Rurik Davis and his family moving to the reservation the following year. After Davis became chair of the executive committee of the tribe, he attempted to dis-enroll Rhoades, their mother, and a half-brother. The attempt failed, and Rhoades said that the incident left her with intense resentment towards Davis, and that, "When my mother's feelings get hurt, it doesn't make me very happy".March Ray A. Mass Murder in California's Empty Quarter: A Tale of Tribal Treachery at the Cedarville Rancheria October 1, 2020 University of Nebraska Press 978-1496217561 October 1, 2020 28–30 Rhoades worked her way into the tribe's leadership. Rhoades eventually became the leader of the tribe and worked at the tribe's gas station and convenience store in Cedarville, where she often wore bright tank tops and showed off her tattoos. A sister of one of the victims said that Rhoades liked to joke, but said that "you did not want to get on her bad side" and that Rhoades had a "powerful personality". A resident of the Rancheria said that Rhoades "bullied her way through life", but that she would never have believed Rhoades was capable of such an attack.February 23, 2014 Cherie Lash Rhoades, woman arrested for tribal shooting, known as bully https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cherie-lash-rhoades-woman-arrested-for-tribal-shooting-known-as-bully/ January 15, 2026 CBS News Rhoades' husband, daughter, and grandson reported hearing her make threats about hurting those who had accused her of embezzling funds, with her husband reporting that she had specifically heard Rhoades threaten to shoot her accusers, but he said that he didn't believe her at the time.April 25, 2014 Husband of former Cedarville Rancheria chair reveals threats https://indianz.com/News/2014/013421.asp June 27, 2026 Indianz.com Alturas police chief Ken Barnes said that Rhoades was known to his department, but that she had never been arrested by his officers before the shooting. Barnes also said that Rhoades was known to be "difficult".Willon Phil Dolan Maura Gold Scott February 21, 2014 Tribe’s leadership ‘pretty much lost’ after Alturas slayings https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-tribal-slayings-scene-20140221-story.html https://web.archive.org/web/20260411171130/https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-tribal-slayings-scene-20140221-story.html April 11, 2026 July 2, 2026 Los Angeles Times Legal proceedings Alturas police chief Ken Barnes said that Rhoades spoke briefly to police before requesting a lawyer. Rhoades was held without bail following her arrest. On February 25, 2014, Rhoades made her first court appearance for arraignment hearings, where she wore a bulletproof vest during the proceedings at Modoc County Superior Court, and the arraignment hearings were continued until March 3 at the defense's request.February 25, 2014 Ex-Tribe Leader Accused of Kill Spree Has First Court Appearance https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ex-tribe-leader-accused-kill-spree-has-first-court-appearance-n38751 June 19, 2026 NBC News Associated Press On March 3, Rhoades was charged with four counts of murder and two counts of premeditated attempted murder. Rhoades pleaded not guilty, and district attorney Jordan Funk said that the state hadn't made a decision whether to pursue the death penalty or not.March 3, 2014 Cherie Lash arraigned in quadruple murder https://krcrtv.com/archive/cherie-lash-arraigned-in-quadruple-murder June 19, 2026 KRCR-TVMarch 4, 2014 Former Cedarville Rancheria chair pleads not guilty to murders https://indianz.com/News/2014/012734.asp June 27, 2026 Indianz.com On July 9, Rhoades faced Modoc County judge John T. Ball for a preliminary hearing. During the hearing, surveillance footage video of the attack was played by Funk, and Rhoades reacted by holding her head in her hands and putting her elbows on the defense table. Ball ordered a jury trial and scheduled her arraignment for August 13.Little Jane Braxton July 10, 2014 Jury trial ordered in 4 tribal killings https://www.newspapers.com/image/645011556/ July 2, 2026 The Sacramento Bee B3 Newspapers.com On November 10, prosecutors announced their intention to pursue the death penalty. Rhoades' defense attorney, Antonio Alvarez, said he was not surprised by the announcement.DA to seek death penalty in shooting https://www.newspapers.com/image/796526964/?article=c9f34c2b-3cf5-4118-b1fc-c082cfff652d July 2, 2026 Redding Record Searchlight 4 Newspapers.com In February 2015, Rhoades' trial was moved out of Modoc County, but she was scheduled to appear in front of Ball again on March 18 so that he could schedule her trial.Little Jane Braxton February 26, 2015 Murder trial moved out of Modoc County https://www.newspapers.com/image/644994121/ July 2, 2026 The Sacramento Bee Newspapers.com In December 2016, Rhoades was convicted of all charges by a Placer County jury, after her trial had been delayed by the death of Ball on November 10, 2015.Herhold Scott November 28, 2015 Judge John Ball: A prankster and a serious judge https://www.thereporter.com/2015/11/28/judge-john-ball-a-prankster-and-a-serious-judge-2/ July 2, 2026 The ReporterLittle Jane Braxton January 7, 2017 Jury picks death for ex-tribal chair who killed 4 https://www.newspapers.com/image/644042330/ July 2, 2026 The Sacramento Bee 4 Newspapers.com After Ball's death, he was replaced by judge Candice Beason. On January 5, 2017, after about three and a half hours of deliberation, the jury voted in favor of the death penalty. On April 10, just before Rhoades' sentencing, Alvarez filed a motion for a new trial, saying that Barnes' testimony during the trial was "false". Funk said that Alvarez's request was a "tempest in a teapot", and Beason denied the motion. During Rhoades' sentencing, Beason described Rhoades' actions as "intentional, premeditated, and willful", and also green-lighted $64,874 in restitution payments to the victims pending future discussions with Alvarez and Funk. Multiple members of the tribe were also present during the sentencing.Little Jane Braxton April 11, 2017 Woman gets death penalty for 'premeditated' killings at Cedarville tribal hall https://www.newspapers.com/image/644987338/ July 2, 2026 The Sacramento Bee 3 Newspapers.com Aftermath The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) deployed grief counselors to Alturas after the shooting. After the shooting, Cedarville Rancheria created an interim government, with Brandi Penn installed as temporary chair.March Ray A. Mass Murder in California's Empty Quarter: A Tale of Tribal Treachery at the Cedarville Rancheria October 1, 2020 University of Nebraska Press 978-1496217561 October 1, 2020 19 Cedarville Rancheria's health center, of which Shelia Russo had been on the board, remained active after the shooting, and the center released a statement saying that their "focus has been to provide services to meet the needs of its clients, who have been affected by the terrible loss of life".February 26, 2014 Cedarville Rancheria keeps health facility running during crisis https://indianz.com/News/2014/012677.asp June 27, 2026 Indianz.com Reactions US president Barack Obama wrote letters offering his condolences to the families who had lost family members in the attack, several of whom had been present during the shooting.Stockle Jennie July 25, 2014 Jennie Stockle: Justice for victims of Cedarville mass shooting https://indianz.com/News/2014/014529.asp June 27, 2026 Indianz.com The mayor of Alturas, John Dederick, said that the tribe "pretty much lost their leadership yesterday" and that even though other shootings had happened in small communities, that no one had "anticipated something like this here". Native American reaction The National Congress of American Indians president, Brian Cladoosby, released a statement that said: "A great sorrow stretches across Indian Country for the heartbreaking tragedy in the Cedarville Rancheria community. I know that the country is joining us in prayer for the victims, their families, and the tribe as they gather their strength to walk together during this time."February 21, 2014 NCAI President Cladoosby urges prayers for Cedarville Rancheria https://indianz.com/News/2014/012626.asp June 27, 2026 Indianz.com The assistant secretary to the head of the BIA, Kevin K. Washburn, said in a press release that "Tribes are, by necessity, very resilient, and we are confident that the Cedarville Rancheria will survive this tragedy". See also Contemporary Native American issues in the United States Crime in California List of death row inmates in the United States California List of women on death row in the United States Mass shootings in the United States 2005 Red Lake shootings, another mass shooting affecting a Native American tribe References California Crime Indigenous peoples of the Americas collapsed Category:2010s mass murders in the United States Category:2014 in California Category:2014 mass shootings in the United States Category:2014 murders in the United States Category:Alturas, California Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in California Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in 2014 Category:Deaths by firearm in California Category:February 2014 crimes in the United States Category:History of Modoc County, California Category:Knife attacks in the United States Category:Mass shootings in California Category:Native American history of California Category:Northern Paiute Category:Stabbing attacks in 2014 Category:Mass shootings involving semi-automatic pistols in the United States Category:Mass murders in California Category:Familicides in the United States Category:2014 mass murders