2 Napa Shooting Suspects Involved In Apparent Love Triangle: PD

NAPA, CA — Two Napa men were booked into the Napa County jail late Sunday on suspicion of attempted homicide and other crimes in connection with a shooting earlier that day, a lieutenant with the Napa Police Department said in a news release. The shooting was reported at 12:30 p.m. Sunday in the 2500 block of Laurel Street, according to Lt. Gary Pitkin.

Officers were dispatched to the scene and found evidence of a shooting but were not immediately able to locate any possible suspects or anyone suffering from gunshot wounds, Pitkin said.

Investigators did speak with a witness, though. From that conversation, police ascertained the shooting may have stemmed from a love triangle involving Manuel Lopez Savedra, a woman and Jose Gomez Morales.

"The woman had a prior relationship with one and current relationship with the other," Pitkin told Patch.

After obtaining information about the identities of the two possible suspects, officers soon found 35-year-old Lopez Savedra; he was in a car in the 2000 block of Brown Street and had a loaded rifle and methamphetamine, Pitkin said.

Gomez Morales' bullet-riddled pickup truck was then found in the 2000 block of Homewood Drive. The truck was towed to the Napa Police Department for evidence as authorities searched for its driver to see whether he needed medical attention and to make an arrest.

Around 8 p.m. Sunday, with the help of the Napa Special Investigations Bureau, Napa police officers and detectives spotted 54-year-old Gomez Morales in the 2000 block of Wilkins Avenue as he went into his apartment with another man, the lieutenant said.

The other man came out of the apartment shortly thereafter and was detained by officers.

"Officers ordered Gomez Morales to come out of the apartment, but he refused," Pitkin said. "Due to the violent nature of the investigation and Gomez Morales’ refusal to follow orders, police
requested the assistance of the SWAT and Crisis Negotiations Teams."

SWAT officers with both Napa PD and the Napa County Sheriff's Office responded, and as they were approaching with a Napa police K-9, Gomez Morales came out of the apartment and was taken into custody.

"Officers later recovered the firearm believed to have been used by Gomez Morales," Pitkin said. "No other suspects or firearms are outstanding."

Gomez Morales and Lopez Savedra were taken to the Napa County Department of Corrections where they were both being held without bail, according to Pitkin.

Gomez Morales was booked on suspicion of two counts of attempted homicide, one count of assault with a firearm on a person, one count of discharge of a firearm with gross negligence, one count of exhibiting a firearm and one count of obstructing/resisting/delaying a peace officer.

Lopez Savedra was booked on suspicion of attempted homicide, discharge of a firearm with gross negligence and possession of a controlled substance and firearm.

Police are continuing their investigation; anyone who witnessed the shooting or has any pertinent information is asked to contact Detective Garrett Wade at gwade@cityofnapa.org or 707-257-9509.

Members of the public can also submit a confidential, anonymous tip via cellphone by texting the word 707NPD and the tip information to 847411 (tip411). The case number to reference is 19-5778.