Man Sentenced For Dutton Plaza Shooting In Sonoma County: DA

SANTA ROSA, CA — A Santa Rosa man with a history of violent offenses was sentenced to 50 years to life in state prison this week following his conviction on multiple counts, including two counts of attempted murder, the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office announced Wednesday.

Steven Strawn, 43, who had three prior strike offenses, received the sentence after being found guilty last November of attempted murder, assault with an assault weapon, possession of an assault weapon, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, prosecutors said.

The charges stem from a September 2024 incident at the Dutton Plaza shopping center. According to the DA's office, Strawn was harassing patrons before being asked to leave. As Strawn sat in the passenger's seat of a Pontiac driven by his friend, Jared Ambrose, he pulled out an illegal assault rifle, prosecutors said.

Strawn fired at two people — one who had intervened and another who was taking a picture — as Ambrose drove away, prosecutors said. Both victims escaped injury because Strawn missed and his weapon subsequently jammed, according to the DA’s office.

An officer located Strawn shortly after in a nearby parking lot, attempting to clear the jammed round from the rifle at the open trunk of the Pontiac, police said. An investigation and search warrants at the residences of both Strawn and Ambrose uncovered a cache of 12 additional firearms, gun parts and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, prosecutors said.

Ambrose was also arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and shooting from a vehicle, according to the DA’s office.

At trial, Strawn attempted to claim a mysterious third person was responsible for the shooting, but the jury rejected his defense and found him guilty on all charges, prosecutors said.