16-year-old Covelo boy arrested in Oroville at 11.am Tuesday for shooting 38-year-old Covelo woman to death Sunday night, suspect allegedly was striking out at a 15-year-old former girlfriend

A 16-year-old Covelo boy was arrested by Oroville Police after a chase out of a restaurant at 11 a.m Tuesday for killing a 38-year-old, apparently as part of a furious campaign of violence against a 15-year-old Covelo girl he had been dating. A previous attack on the girl had gone unreported to law enforcement. The boy’s name is not being released. Round Valley Tribal Police said the 38-year old victims name was Audrey Card in a statement they made, but the county sheriff’s department is not releasing her name yet or any other info beyond the press release issued Tuesday afternoon.

Card is reportedly related to the 15-year-old girl and from reading the press release her killing seems to have been an act of retribution by the 16-year-old boy.

The 16 year old boy reportedly drove firing out the window around Covelo looking for and chasing the girl. He attacked her. Later, the girl was on the phone with Card when she heard gunshots and it was figured at some point out it was Card being shot multiple times.

The attack on the 15-year-old girl happened late Saturday night or early Sunday morning, or both. Detectives first obtained a warrant to arrest him on stalking, battery and criminal charges.

But then, the homicide happened and he was tied to it and the search intensified. The local sheriff’s department traced him to Oroville and they contacted law enforcement agencies there, who quicklly helped with the search. At 11:00 am, Oroville Police located the boy at an Oroville restaurant, a foot chase ensued and he was arrested.

The SO will not, should not and wont release the name of the 15-year old girl ever. Nor the suspect. However, the district attorney, at his discretion can release the name of the boy or even try him as an adult, if the case meets certain criteria.

Here is our first story, which contains the press release and some additional facts we learned about the homicide.

Here is the NEW part of the press release which describes the facts we presented above, albiet shortened and some material we found out added.

During the homicide investigation, Sheriff’s Detectives identified a 16-year-old male juvenile from Covelo as the suspect in the shooting. It was also determined that the male juvenile was previously in a dating relationship with a 15-year-old female juvenile from Covelo. There was a domestic violence incident involving the male juvenile and female juvenile which was unreported to law enforcement.

Understanding the High Rates of Violence Against Native Americans
 
During the early morning hours of Sunday 04/19/2026, the female juvenile was driving a vehicle in Covelo and was being chased by a vehicle being driven by the male juvenile suspect. The suspect followed the female juvenile to numerous locations in Covelo and was reportedly discharging a firearm out of the vehicle he was driving. The female juvenile eventually stopped the vehicle and the male suspect approached and ordered her out of the vehicle at gunpoint. The female juvenile was physically assaulted by the male juvenile suspect and was in sustained fear for her safety. The female juvenile victim was able to drive away from the incident and reported the details to other family members.

https://www.arcsaulttribe.com/awareness-blog/october-is-domestic-violence-awareness-month-1
 
Later in the morning hours of 04/19/2026, the female juvenile victim was on the phone with a family member, who was the 38-year-old female from Covelo, CA. The female juvenile heard several gunshots in the background while on the phone, which was determined to be the shooting where the 38-year-old female was murdered.  

By connecting the earlier domestic violence incident between the male and female juveniles with the ongoing homicide investigation, Sheriff’s Detectives developed probable cause that the 16-year-old male juvenile was responsible for the shooting death of the 38-year-old female on a dirt road near Charlie Hurt Highway in Covelo.
 
Sheriff’s Detectives determined the 16-year-old male juvenile was responsible for numerous crimes earlier in the morning of 04/19/2026 involving the female juvenile during the domestic violence incident. An arrest warrant was sought and authorized for the male juvenile suspect for the following charges:
 
646.9 PC – Stalking
422 PC – Criminal threats
243(e)(1) PC – Domestic battery
 
Investigators received information indicating the male juvenile suspect left the Covelo area and was possibly in the Oroville, CA area in Butte County. Sheriff’s Detectives coordinated with law enforcement in Butte County and the Oroville Police Department to attempt and apprehend the male juvenile pursuant to the arrest warrant. During the evening of 04/19/2026, Investigators and Butte County law enforcement personnel searched numerous locations and interviewed possible witnesses in the Oroville area but were unable to locate the male juvenile suspect.
 
On 04/21/2026 at approximately 11:00 A.M., Sheriff’s Detectives received information from the Oroville Police Department regarding the whereabouts of the male juvenile suspect. Oroville Police Officers located the male juvenile at a restaurant in Oroville. When attempting to arrest the male juvenile, he fled the location. After a foot pursuit, Oroville Police Department Officers were able to apprehend the 16-year-old male juvenile without further incident.

News article on: intimate violence

The male juvenile suspect is being held at a juvenile detention facility in Butte County pursuant to the arrest warrant issued during this investigation. Investigators are facilitating the extradition of the male juvenile to Mendocino County where he will be booked at the Mendocino County Juvenile Hall.

Additional charges are being sought against the 16-year-old male through the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office related to the homicide investigation.

 
Names of the involved juveniles will not be released as juvenile names and records are exempt from public disclosure.
 
A forensic autopsy has been scheduled for the 38-year-old female homicide victim, and additional information to include the decedent’s name will be released as this investigation progresses.

Editors Note- We dont plan to report the relationship between the two victims here and we encourage other media NOT to do that either. In this age, its there forever in a Word Press or similar news outlet. Facebook fades away, so ignore it.
 
Anyone with information related to this incident is requested to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office at 707-463-4086 (option 1). Information can also be provided anonymously by calling the non-emergency tip-line at 707-234-2100.