Description Of Alleged Santa Cruz Carjacker Is Released

SANTA CRUZ - Police are seeking the public's assistance in identifying and locating a suspect involved in a carjacking in Santa Cruz Monday night.

According to police, officers responded shortly after 9:30 p.m. to the 1600 block of Mission Street at Bay Street on reports of shots fired and a carjacking.

Upon arrival, officers found two men that had been in their car when a suspect with a handgun approached and demanded they get out of the vehicle.

The driver attempted to pull away from the suspect, turning eastbound on Bay Street when the suspect ran after the fleeing car and fired two shots at the vehicle.

Police said the victims jumped out of the car and ran. Neither victim was struck by the gunfire.

According to police, within an hour the vehicle was recovered in an unoccupied area on the eastside.

The suspect was described as a Hispanic man, 20-30 years old, five feet 10 inches, 240 pounds, with black cropped hair in the front and a ponytail. He was last seen wearing a gray zip-up sweater, white shirt, tan shorts and long white socks.

The incident is under investigation and anyone with information is encouraged to contact Santa Cruz police at (831) 420-5820.

-Bay City News, image via ShutterStock