With the investigation into the 2017 stabbing death of Humboldt State University sophomore David Josiah Lawson back in its lap, the Arcata Police Department is asking for the public's help in identifying witnesses.

The department sent out a press release this afternoon announcing that it has set up a 24-hour tip line — (707) 825-2590 — for members of the public to call with information about Lawson's death, adding that callers can remain anonymous if they choose.

Additionally, the department has released five still photos pulled from "video obtained near the crime scene" with the hopes that members of the public can identify the people in them, as they may be potential witnesses in the case.

Lawson was fatally stabbed April 15, 2017, at an off-campus party near Alliance Road. Police arrested a McKinleyville man, Kyle Zoellner, at the scene but a judge later dismissed a murder charge against him, finding prosecutors hadn't presented enough evidence to hold him to stand trial, sending the case back to the investigation phase. In November, APD again turned its investigation over to the Humboldt County District Attorney's Office, with then interim APD Chief Rick Ehle saying investigators and found "unequivocal physical evidence" linking a specific suspect to Lawson's slaying.

The Humboldt County District Attorney's Office convened a criminal grand jury to look into the case in late February but after hearing testimony from 28 witnesses, the jury declined to hand up any indictments. The case is now back with APD for further investigation and current APD Chief Brian Ahearn has said the case is "solvable" and pledged to "hold someone accountable."

See the photos released by APD, as well as the full press release, copied below:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

APD SEEKS THE PUBLIC'S HELP WITH LAWSON INVESTIGATION

The Arcata Police Department has established a 24-hour tip line for any member of the public to call and provide information on the murder of David Josiah Lawson. Josiah Lawson, a Humboldt State University student, was killed at a house party in the 1100 block of Spear Avenue on April 15, 2017. Anyone with information is asked to call the tip line at (707)825-2590. Callers may remain anonymous if they choose.

Additionally, the Arcata Police Department is releasing still images from video obtained near the crime scene in order to identify anyone in these images as potential witnesses. The photos are available on the Arcata Police Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/arcatapd/). If you have any information on the identity and/or whereabouts of anyone depicted in these photographs, please call the Arcata Police Department's Lawson Tip Line (707)825-2590, or on the APD business line at (707)822-2428 .