Felon Accused Of Firing Off Rounds At Motel 6 In Petaluma: Police

PETALUMA, CA — No one was injured when a felon fired off at least nine rounds Tuesday morning inside Motel 6 in Petaluma, police said.

The Petaluma Police Department responded at 9:30 a.m. to a 911 call from a woman staying at the motel at 1368 N. McDowell Blvd. who said someone was firing a gun into her room, police Sgt. Patrick Gerke said.

The motel guest told police numerous gunshots were fired into her room from the room next to hers.

As officers got to the motel, a man later identified as Jose Gomeznunez, 52, of Lodi, was standing in front of his motel room, Gerke said.

As officers detained Gomeznunez, he was found with a loaded 9mm handgun on his person, the sergeant said.

"During the investigation it was determined that Gomeznunez had fired 9 rounds from inside his hotel room," Gerke said.

Officers confirmed several of the rounds went through the wall and into the adjacent room but did not strike the woman.

Two rounds were fired through the door of the motel room, another entered an empty room, and the other was found in a balcony railing on the second story.

Several Sonoma County sheriff's deputies responded to assist with the incident.

A search of the motel revealed no one was struck by any of the rounds, police said.

"It was determined Gomeznunez is a convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing a firearm," Gerke said. "Gomeznunez was booked into the Sonoma County Jail for the above charges and his bail was set at $250,000."