Homeless Man Beaten To Death; 2 Arrests Made: Santa Rosa PD

SANTA ROSA, CA — UPDATED: Police in Santa Rosa have arrested a second suspect in the death Thursday night of a homeless man. William Armister Amons, 62, of San Francisco, is being held without bail at Sonoma County jail on suspicion of murder, according to the Santa Rosa Police Department and jail records.

Friday afternoon, the Santa Rosa Police Department announced a second arrest had been made in the homicide investigation. Solomon Asgedom Fret, a 55-year-old homeless man from Santa Rosa, is also being held without bail in connection with the homicide investigation.

Officers responded Thursday at 9:40 p.m. to a report of a fight that had just occurred near Piner Road. A woman who reportedly witnessed the fight ran into the El Brinquito Restaurant at 810 Piner Road and reported a man was getting beaten with a stick behind a nearby business, Santa Rosa police Lt. John Cregan said in a news release.

Police said the witness was able to give a detailed description of the suspect in the incident.

Responding officers located a man lying on the ground behind an industrial building in the 900 block of Piner Road.

Police said the victim had visible injuries consistent with blunt-force trauma and died at the scene.

A short time later, an officer located a man matching the suspect's description riding a bicycle in the 1700 block of Piner Road.

Police said the suspect, identified as Amons, had injuries consistent with a recent physical altercation.

Pending the notification of his family, police have identified the victim only as a 50-year-old homeless man who lived in a tent located along nearby Russell Creek.

"The initial investigation shows that the two suspects, William Amons and Solomon Fret, confronted the victim in a dispute over a bicycle," Cregan said in an updated news release Friday afternoon. "All three subjects are homeless and live in the area where the homicide occurred. The group associates with several vehicles which were parked to the rear of a business located in the 900 block of Piner Road as well as several tents located along the Russell Creek path in the area."

According to Cregan: "Amons and Fret grabbed blunt objects and repeatedly struck the victim in the upper body with the weapons. The victim had visible injuries as a result of the assault. The victim fell to the ground, and both suspects fled the area."

Amons, whom Cregan said occasionally stays with family members in Santa Rosa and San Francisco, is due in court Tuesday. Sonoma County jail records indicate he's been booked at the jail several times in the past.

A search of Fret's name on the sheriff's jail website showed no previous bookings. He is also due in court Tuesday.

Police are still investigating the incident.

Police asked anyone who witnessed the altercation to call the Santa Rosa Police Violent Crimes Team at 707-543-3590.

"We are aware of several unidentified witnesses to the homicide, and detectives are actively seeking to identify and interview these individuals," Cregan said.

The Sonoma County Alliance is offering a reward of up to $2,500 through its "Take Back Our Community Program" for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect or suspects who assaulted the victim.

Further, Cregan said, SRPD "is committed to working collaboratively with the Catholic Charities Homeless Outreach Services Team to provide outreach and services to those affected by homelessness."

The lieutenant said concerned residents are encouraged to call H.O.S.T. directly at 1-855-707-46789 to report subjects who may be in need of services. Concerned community members can also call the police department at 707-543-3600, Cregan said.

• ALSO SEE: Man Found Dead Near Napa Trail In 'Extremely Serious Crime': PD

By Bay City News Service and Patch local editor Maggie Avants

Jail booking photos of William Armister Amons and Solomon Asgedom Fret courtesy Santa Rosa Police Department