Marijuana doesn’t kill people, people growing marijuana kill people.

FORT BRAGG, Calif. – A well-respected California community leader who was gunned down after finding a remote illegal marijuana operation was a two-term mayor whose fundraising and goodwill helped build firehouses and a first-class high school football stadium.

The city of Fort Bragg was reeling Monday after the death of longtime Councilman Jere Melo, a forest land manager who was fatally shot Saturday while he and a co-worker were walking through a rugged area of timber land just outside town.

A manhunt continued for the suspected gunman.

The five-decade veteran of the timber industry was patrolling forestland on Saturday when he was shot and killed. A co-worker who was with him managed to escape and phone police.

The two had apparently stumbled upon a marijuana field.

Law enforcement is searching for 30-something-year-old Aaron Bassler, a transient who has a history of run-ins with the police. Bassler should be considered armed and dangerous.