Suspect In Fatal East Petaluma Shooting Surrenders After Standoff

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — The suspect in a fatal shooting Monday in unincorporated Petaluma was taken into custody after a six-hour standoff, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office said.

Early Tuesday morning, Lloban Martinez Soto, 38, of Santa Rosa, was booked into Sonoma County jail on suspicion of homicide in the death of Jesus Mendez, 34, of Santa Rosa.

Deputies responded at 2:40 p.m. Monday to the 700 block of Casa Grande Road — near Old Adobe Road — where Mendez was down in a carport suffering from gunshot wounds.

Medical personnel pronounced Mendez dead at the scene, sheriff's officials said.

A witness saw a red car take off after the shooting, and that information was broadcast to area law enforcement.

Within 10 minutes, a sheriff's sergeant on duty some 12 miles away in Sonoma Valley saw a car matching that description. The sergeant tried to follow the car but the driver got away.

The red car was later found abandoned in the 19000 block of Bay Street in the El Verano area of Sonoma Valley.

Deputies continued their investigation and found Soto at a house on Center Street, just a few blocks from where the car was left.

Deputies told everyone inside the house to come out, and all occupants except Soto followed their instructions.

When Soto refused to come outside despite multiple announcements made by deputies, the Sheriff's SWAT and Hostage Negotiations Team responded to the house.

Soto remained barricaded inside the home for approximately six hours Monday night, according to a news release from the sheriff's office.

Officials said no additional people were found inside the house.

As for Soto, he was taken into custody and later booked into Sonoma County jail on suspicion of homicide, according to the news release. He was also being held on a no-bail warrant.

"Our condolences go out to the family and friends of Jesus Mendez during this difficult time," the sheriff's office said.