Gun battle erupts outside marijuana grow house in Fremont

FREMONT, Calif. - Scary moments outside a Fremont home early Monday morning after a gun battle between the suspects and the people living inside. Police said the reason the rental home was targeted was because it was an illegal marijuana grow house. Police found nearly 500 pot plants at the home on Fremont Boulevard near Delaware Street.

Police said one of the renters tending to the grow was shot in the shoulder. He has been released from the hospital. It happened at 1:30 a.m. A stray bullet hit the window of a car leaving shattered glass. Police said at least eight rounds were fired.

On the outside, the home looks well-kept. Neighbors said it lists for $1 million. However, on the inside, police discovered a full-blown marijuana grow house with 460 plants. Police said an estimated street value is $250 an ounce.

"Every square inch was used as grow spot except for the garage where they would sleep on a plank of wood," said Detective Michael Gebhardt of Fremont Police.

At 1:30 a.m., neighbors woke up to the sound of rapid gunfire. Police said at least two masked suspects attempted to break in and started shooting. Several people inside returned fire. A round hit a parked car. Neighbors said it belongs to one of the home's occupants. Blood was left on the sidewalk. All of them got away.

Police didn't realize what happened until an hour later when a 28-year-old Oakland man showed up at the hospital with a bullet wound.

"I work in robbery and homicide," said Detective Gebhardt. "This is one of my biggest fears. One of my neighbors had a grow house and someone would attempt to rob it and there's a shooting."

Richard Sewell lives next door. Sewell said he found three shell casings on his property. He knew early on something wasn't right.

"They would come and park their cars and there would be no lights on," said Sewell. "I couldn't figure out why there were no lights. That didn’t make sense."

Police found windows boarded up with plywood. An extensive ventilation and lighting system were installed. They're now investigating if it's part of a bigger organized operation, concerned now that recreational marijuana is legal, it could attract more violence.

"If more people are said to grow marijuana at a house, it's almost akin to having gold at your house," said Detective Gebhardt. "You have gold at your house. That gets into the ears of the wrong people and they may try to take your gold."
              
Police said evidence suggests the renters grabbed some of the plants after the shooting before officers arrived. Police are canvassing the area for surveillance video, looking at traffic cameras and ramping up patrols.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Fremont Police Detective J. Blass at (510) 790-6963.