Suspect arrested in Eureka after dog, human stabbed

EUREKA, Calif. — A violent, chaotic scene erupted in broad daylight Saturday morning when a knife attack at a homeless encampment left a man and a dog stabbed — and ended with a hatchet-wielding pursuit through the streets of Eureka.

Police were called to the 0 block of West 3rd Street just after 10:15 a.m. following reports of a stabbing. When officers arrived, they found an adult man bleeding from multiple stab wounds to his leg. Nearby, a dog lay injured after being stabbed in the chest.

The suspect had already fled.

As officers began searching the area, they were confronted with an even more alarming sight: the suspect, later identified as 24-year-old Tyler Smith, was spotted running through the area — being chased by another man armed with a hatchet.

Police quickly intervened, detaining both Smith and the pursuing man, Mitchell Byrd, without further violence.

Investigators pieced together the explosive chain of events using witness statements and surveillance footage from a nearby business. According to police, the incident began as a physical fight between Smith and Byrd. During that confrontation, Smith allegedly pulled a knife, prompting Byrd to flee.

But the violence didn’t stop there.

Police say Smith then turned on another individual connected to Byrd, launching a second attack in which both the man and his dog were stabbed. The scene devolved into panic as bystanders watched the suspect escape — only to be hunted down moments later by an enraged man with a hatchet.

Smith was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility, facing attempted homicide and animal cruelty charges. Byrd was also arrested and booked on charges of assault with a deadly weapon.

The injured dog was rushed to a local veterinary hospital, where it received emergency treatment.

Police say the investigation is still active and are urging anyone who witnessed the incident or has additional information to contact the Eureka Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Unit.

What began as a street fight spiraled into a violent, weapon-filled chase — a shocking reminder of how quickly chaos can erupt in the middle of the day.

ORIGINAL SOURCE