Police announced Monday that a 15-year-old child who was shot on Saturday in Santa Rosa during what may have been a gang-related shooting has passed away.
The child is the second adolescent to pass away from gun violence in as many weeks, possibly due to gang involvement. He was declared dead at a hospital shortly before 11:45 p.m. on Sunday, Santa Rosa police Lt. Chris Mahurin said on Monday.
The boy’s identity hasn’t been made public yet.
The young man had been at the medical center since Saturday night, when emergency personnel discovered him lying in the roadway in the 2000 block of Blacksmith Way, just after 8:05 p.m. Numerous callers there claimed to have heard gunfire.
The 15-year-old had many gunshot wounds, was bleeding, and was not breathing. He was revived by medical professionals before being taken urgently to the hospital.
According to witnesses who spoke to the police, the other shooters ran away.
NBC Bay Area confirms the news on its official Twitter account:
NEW: A 15-year-old Santa Rosa boy who was shot Saturday night in an apparent gunfight between two groups has died, police say. https://t.co/eaZoPIBOhG
— NBC Bay Area (@nbcbayarea) June 26, 2023
The southwest area of the city’s Blacksmith Way, near Arrowhead Drive, was the scene of an altercation between two small groups of potential gang members who were all in their teens or early 20s.
Witnesses claimed that the brawl intensified when at least two individuals, possibly one from each group, pulled out firearms and began firing.
The 15-year-old, who was in one of the groups, was hit by a number of bullets.
Researchers are still trying to figure out how many people were in the altercation, how many people were shooting, and how much each person was involved in gang activity.
On June 16, a drive-by shooting on Corby Avenue in Santa Rosa resulted in the shooting and death of a second 15-year-old kid. Police are investigating if the fatal shooting on Saturday was related to the killing last week.
The California Examiner is a must-read for anybody interested in the state’s current events:
- DPS Puts Kidnapping Suspect in Dallas on “10 Most Wanted” List, Offers Prize
- A 6.0-magnitude Earthquake In The Pacific Is Detected By The California Earthquake Alert System
There have been no arrests, and Santa Rosa police are unable to provide the public with any information about the suspects.
Residents who live close to the gunshot scene are being asked to check their security cameras for evidence of the incident or of the suspects running away.
The Sonoma County Alliance Community Engagement and Safety Rewards Fund is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information resulting in the capture of a suspect or suspects in this shooting.
Contacting the Santa Rosa Police Department’s Violent Crime Team at 707-543-3590 or online at srcity.org/CrimeTips is urged for witnesses or individuals with relevant information.
The California Examiner is a must-bookmark if you want to stay abreast of all the latest breaking news from the Golden State.
