2 Men Arrested in Separate Fremont Shootings

FREMONT, CA — Fremont Police arrested suspects in two different shootings that happened in September. No one was hurt in either shooting. Police also recovered two guns and two stolen vehicles.

The first shooting happened on Sept. 3, just before 11 a.m. According to police, two suspects were interrupted as they tried to steal a catalytic converter from a work truck near Havasu Street and Choctaw Drive.

A victim hit one of the suspects with a crowbar. The suspects fled in a vehicle, but one of them fired multiple rounds back at the victim and his co-workers.

Major Crimes Task Force Detectives found the unoccupied suspect vehicle several hours later and began a surveillance operation.

The vehicle had been stolen out of San Francisco and was recovered several days later.

Detectives identified Rufus Barker, 34, of Oakland as the shooting suspect. Barker was on probation for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He also has prior arrests for assault with a firearm on a person, carrying a loaded firearm, possession of a firearm near a school campus, possession of stolen vehicles, possession of a controlled substance for sales, violation of a court order, and drug possession.

Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Barker. He was arrested in Hayward on Sept. 21. Detectives recovered a loaded, non-serialized handgun in his vehicle, which was also stolen.

According to police Barker was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, carrying a concealed/loaded firearm in a vehicle, possession of two stolen vehicles, and possession of a controlled substance while armed.

Barker posted bail and was released from Santa Rita Jail on Sept. 29. He is scheduled to be in court on Dec. 9.

The second shooting happened on Sept. 22.

Witnesses reported a shooting near Overacker Avenue and Spetti Drive around 6 p.m.

Officers found shell casings in the roadway but no victims.

Video surveillance was recovered and police identified a suspect vehicle.

Detectives found the vehicle and began a surveillance operation on a potential suspect.

On Sept. 29, police arrested Antonio Sandoval, 18, of Fremont.

A search warrant allowed police to search the vehicle and an associated residence in the 37000 block of Vallejo Street. Police seized a loaded non-serialized gun from the vehicle.

Sandoval was booked at Santa Rita Jail on charges of carrying a loaded firearm and negligent discharge of a firearm. He posted bail the following day.

Sandoval is due in court on Nov. 29.