4 shot including 11-YO boy at Santa Rosa park, man suffers life-threatening injuries
SANTA ROSA, Calif. (KTVU/BCN) - Four people including an 11-year-old boy were shot Wednesday evening at Santa Rosa's Jacobs Park, police said.
The boy along with two other men, ages 20 and 45, are believed to be innocent bystanders. A 21-year-old man who is believed to be the intended target is suffering from life-threatening injuries, but his condition is stable. w%INLINE%
Multiple 911 calls came in at around 7:35 p.m. to report the shooting at the park near Link Lane and West Ninth Street and Abraham Lincoln Elementary School. According to police, several soccer games were happening at this area as hundreds of people were in the park. %INLINE%
The Santa Rosa Press-Democrat said hundreds of people were at the park for youth soccer practice and adult scrimmages.
Francisco Vallejo, president of the Black Oaks Soccer Club, said stray bullets struck the coach and the boy. He said both were shot in the leg and were recovering Thursday from surgery.
According to police, witnesses said a gang-related, verbal altercation ensued just before the shooting occurred.
Police said according to witnesses a Hispanic male got out of a vehicle on Link Lane and began firing multiple rounds on the victims. A dark-colored SUV, said to have several male suspects, drove away with the shooter inside.
Police are not releasing the victims' names as the investigation is ongoing. %INLINE%
A reward up to $2,500 is being offered by the Sonoma County Alliance Take Back Our Community Program for information leading to the arrest of the suspects.
Santa Rosa Police Department encourages anyone who witnessed or has information regarding the incident to call the Gang Crimes Team at (707) 543-3670. Detectives believe this shooting was a targeted, gang-related incident.