Santa Rosa Road-Rage Shooting: SUV Driver Sought By Police

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — Santa Rosa police are seeking an SUV driver in an alleged shooting Monday evening apparently sparked by road rage. The suspect fired at least one round which struck the victim’s vehicle, Santa Rosa police Sgt. Dan Marincik said in a news release. The incident was reported at 8:44 p.m. New Year's Day on Montecito Boulevard in the Alta Vista area. Officers were dispatched to the scene and were told by the victim that he had been driving in the area of Calistoga Road and Dupont Drive when the driver of a late-model silver sports-utility vehicle — possibly a Mercedes-Benz — stopped behind him, then started tailgating him as he drove northbound on Calistoga.

"The victim saw the suspect was holding a handgun," Marincik said. "After driving on several side streets in an attempt to flee from the suspect, the victim ended up in the area of Montecito Boulevard and Mission Boulevard."

With the SUV driver still tailing him, the victim tried to turn his vehicle around. At that point, the suspect fired at least one round which struck the victim’s vehicle but did not injure the victim, the sergeant said.

The suspect then reportedly drove westbound on Montecito.

Responding officers checked the area but were not able to locate the suspect or his vehicle.

The shooting suspect was described as a white or Latino man in his 30s or 40s who appeared to have a receding hairline.

Anyone with information about the suspect or the incident — or who might have surveillance video of the suspect or his vehicle in the area — is encouraged to call the Santa Rosa Police Department Violent Crimes Team at 707-543-3590.

Police said Tuesday a reward of up to $2,500 is being offered by the Sonoma County Alliance's Take Back Our Community Program for information leading to his arrest and conviction.

"Based on the initial information, the incident does not appear to be gang related; however, the motive for the crime is under investigation," Marincik said. "Detectives were notified of the incident and will be taking over the investigation."

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