Officials ID Watsonville Man Shot Dead In National Forest

WATSONVILLE, CA — The Watsonville man who was shot to death at a Stanislaus National Forest campground after he entered the tent of a sleeping couple has been identified as 36-year-old Timothy Edward Smith.

The Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office handled the preliminary investigation of Thursday's shooting at the forest's Deadman Campground, and "investigators are working closely with the District Attorney's office on this case," the sheriff's office said.

Few details about the case have been released, but the sheriff's office confirmed Friday that no arrests have been made.

A man and his girlfriend were asleep in their tent when Smith entered it at approximately 2 a.m., according to the sheriff's office.

"The woman woke up to the Watsonville man on top of her," the sheriff's office said. "The woman yelled to wake up her boyfriend who was next to her in the tent. During the ensuing confrontation the Watsonville man was shot, causing his death."

The couple did not know Smith, who was dead when investigators arrived on scene, according to the sheriff's office.