Shooter Of North Bay Man Turns Gun On Himself In Apparent Suicide: Deputies

SONOMA COUNTY, CA – The end of domestic relationship prompted one of those involved to shoot one person and then apparently turn the gun on himself Friday afternoon in the unincorporated Sonoma County community of Kenwood, sheriff's officials said Saturday night.

Deputies responded at 2:27 p.m. to a 911 call from a home in the 2000 block of Adobe Canyon Road. The caller said a shooting had just taken place at a separate home on Adobe Canyon Road.

Sheriff's officials said the suspect in the shooting, who they identified as Randall Farris, 56, of Kenwood, was inside the home with two others when he allegedly showed them a gun in his jacket.

He was near to both of them when he allegedly asked them who wanted to die first, according to sheriff's officials.

One of the victims fearing for the safety of the other tried to get the gun from Farris, who allegedly shot that person multiple times. The victim, however, was able to turn the gun on Farris and fire multiple shots, two of which hit him.

As the two were fighting for the gun, the second victim left the home, got in a vehicle and drove to a neighbor's house to call 911, sheriff's officials said.

Arriving deputies found a male gunshot victim at the residence, Lt. Al Vernon said.

As deputies and paramedics responded, deputies learned that allegedly Farris drove away in a black Nissan Pathfinder, which prompted them to ask for help from other law enforcement agencies.

A deputy and Santa Rosa police officer responding to the shooting saw a black Nissan Pathfinder matching the description of Farris' near state Highway 12 and Melita Road.

The deputy and officer stopped the driver on Melita Road near Susan Road and ordered the person out of the SUV at gunpoint, according to sheriff's officials.

Farris was the driver and he allegedly got out with a gun in his right hand, but did not point it at officers. The deputy and officer ordered Farris to drop the gun and get on the ground, but he allegedly got back in
the Nissan and drove away slowly.

The deputy and officer followed Farris and heard what they thought was the sound of gunshot. Immediately after the sound, the Nissan veered off the road, down a culvert, through some vegetation and into a home, sheriff's officials said.

The airbags deployed and when the deputy and officer got to the Nissan, they found Farris slumped over the steering wheel with a gunshot wound to the right side of his head.

The deputy and officer called for paramedics who tried to save Farris' life. He was alive until he was taken to a hospital where he died.

A gun and one empty bullet casing was found inside the Nissan.

Deputies believe Farris shot himself in the head.

"A firearm and single expended casing (of matching caliber) was located inside the Nissan," officials said. "It’s believed that Randy shot himself in the head, which was the 'pop' sound the officers heard prior to the Nissan veering off the roadway and into a residence."

The victim who was shot is at a hospital recovering from the injuries, according to sheriff's officials. The person is expected to survive. The other victim in the case sustained no physical injuries.

"Due to this incident involving a domestic relationship, the victim’s identities will not be disclosed," the department said.

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--Bay City News contributed to this report/Shutterstock image