Full Notification

****Update**** On July 14, 2023, at approximately 4:30 PM, Novato Police officers responded to the report of gunfire heard around Martin Drive. When the officers arrived, they located a deceased adult male on the back porch of a Martin Drive residence. A deceased dog was found next to the deceased adult. Both appeared to have been injured by gunfire. Officers detained two adult men including, 65-year-old Novato resident Paul Dwight, at the scene.
 
Members of the Novato Police Investigations Section and Crime Scene Investigation team combed through evidence and obtained statements from witnesses. The Marin County Sheriff’s Office Coroner’s Division and members of the Marin County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation team responded to assist with the investigation. The investigation revealed Paul Dwight and the deceased person were roommates involved in an alleged dispute over their housing arrangements. With the assistance of the Marin County District Attorney’s office, investigators obtained a search warrant. During the service of the search warrant, a firearm was recovered. Community members with information about this incident are encouraged to contact investigators by calling 415-897-1122.
 
As a result of this investigation, Paul Dwight was arrested and booked into Marin County Jail for murder and animal cruelty.
The second resident was arrested and booked at Marin County Jail for obstructing and delaying a police investigation.
Pending notification to the next of kin, identification of the deceased person will be released by the Marin County Coroner’s Office.
 
The Novato Police Department would like to thank community members for immediately calling 911, reporting this incident. We appreciate the patience of neighbors during the shelter-in-place, roadway closure, and during the investigation.
We are grateful to our partners at the Marin County Sheriff, Marin County Coroner’s Office, Marin County District Attorney’s Office, and Marin Humane Society for assisting with the collection and preservation of evidence in this case.