Full Notification

Incident:                      Unlawful Discharge of a Firearm
Report Number:          23-4522
Occurred Date :           October 14, 2023
Occurred Time:           5:49 PM
Location:                     389 S. McDowell Blvd, Petaluma
 
Incident Summary:
 
On October 14, 2023, at 5:49 pm, the Petaluma Police Department received a report of a victim who said she had just been shot at. Officers responded to the Safeway parking lot at 389 South McDowell Blvd.  Upon arrival, officers learned the victim, who will only be identified as a forty-one-year-old female from Cotati, was in the process of selling a vehicle to the suspect, a sixteen-year-old male from Petaluma. 
 
The victim and the suspect had previously met to discuss the purchase of the vehicle. An agreement was made to allow the suspect to test drive the vehicle prior to completing the purchase.  The victim later discovered the suspect had changed the license plates on the vehicle and was attempting to sell it online. The victim, using an alias, arranged to meet with the suspect in the Safeway parking lot under the guise of wanting to purchase the vehicle.
 
When the parties arrived, an argument ensued.  The suspect threatened the victim, slashed one of the tires on the vehicle, then removed a black semiautomatic handgun from his waistband and fired a round into the tire of the vehicle.  The suspect then fled the area on foot. No one was injured as a result of the incident. At approximately 9:00 pm, the suspect was later located and detained by the Sonoma County Sherrif’s Office as he returned to his residence. Petaluma Police officers arrived, took custody of the suspect and placed him under arrest.
 
The suspect was transported and booked into juvenile hall for 246.3 PC; Negligent Discharge of a Firearm, 29610(A) PC; Minor in Possession of a Firearm, 25400(AP PC; Concealing a Loaded Firearm, 417(A)(1) PC; Brandishing a Firearm, 422(A) PC; Criminal Threats, and 594(A)(3) PC; Vandalism. 
 
The investigation is still ongoing as the firearm was not recovered and it is unknown as to how the juvenile obtained the firearm.  If anyone has information regarding this incident, please contact Officer Nathan Good at (707)781-1262.
 
Media inquiries can be directed to Lieutenant Garrett Glaviano at (707)778-4439 or [email protected].