Gang-related violence in downtown Santa Rosa surges, police say
https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/gang-related-violence-in-downtown-santa-rosa-surges-police-say
(KRON) — Groups of young teenaged gang members preyed on victims around downtown Santa Rosa for the past two months, police said. Several boys, ranging in ages from 13-15, were arrested by the Santa Rosa Police Department’s gang crimes unit in connection to robberies and assaults.
Most of the gang-related crimes happened where juveniles hangout at Downtown Santa Rosa Transit Mall and Santa Rosa Plaza, investigators said. “These events have created a significant demand for resources from SRPD patrol officers, SRPD Downtown Enforcement Team, Santa Rosa Plaza Security, City of Santa Rosa Transit Mall Staff, outreach workers from the Santa Rosa Violence Prevention Partnership, and detectives from the SRPD Gang Crimes Team,” police wrote.
Law enforcement officials did not release any of the arrested boys’ names because they are minors.
The most recent incident happened on June 6, when a 17-year-old boy in Santa Rosa Plaza was chased, cornered, and surrounded by 10 people. “The suspects grabbed, pushed, punched, and knocked the victim to the ground. Once on the ground the victim was beaten with dozens of punches and kicks to his head, back and stomach areas. During the assault, the suspects pulled off the victim’s shoes and stole them,” SRPD wrote.
When officers arrived on scene, the victim was lying on the ground unconscious. He was rushed to a hospital. Violence between students flares again inside Santa Rosa Schools.
On May 13, a 27-year-old man was walking with his mother near Julliard Park in downtown Santa Rosa. Five boys approached the mother and son.
“The group surrounded the victim and began making gang challenges. The victim was then attacked from the side and knocked to the ground. On the ground, the victim was punched and kicked multiple times suffering visible injuries. A witness yelled at the suspects, causing them to flee,” SRPD wrote. A 15-year-old boy was later arrested on suspicion of assault and participating in a criminal street gang.
On May 20, a 13-year-old boy was walking with his girlfriend in the food court of Santa Rosa Plaza. A group of teenaged gang members were sitting at a table and yelled out “gang related challenges,” police wrote.
“The victim was then approached and attacked by the group. The victim was punched and knocked to the ground. The victim was also robbed of some personal items during the attack. The victim’s girlfriend attempted to intervene, at which point she was attacked by several females who were with the larger group of gang participants,” SRPD wrote. The 13-year-old boy was transported to a hospital in an ambulance.
Three boys, ages 13, 14, and 15, were later arrested in connection to the May 20 food court attack. All three were booked into juvenile hall on suspicion of robbery, assault, and gang participation.
On May 30, a 17-year-old boy was walking in the Downtown Santa Rosa Transit Mall when he saw a group of teenagers, including one who put on a full-face mask. “The group of suspects quickly surrounded the victim and pushed him against a wall. The suspects then demanded the victim’s personal property. In fear, the victim gave up his belongings,” SRPD wrote.
Gang crimes unit detectives identified four teenaged boys in the group connected to the May 30 incident. A 13-year-old boy was arrested on June 11 for robbery and participating in a criminal street gang. He was arrested at Juvenile Hall where he was already in custody for an unrelated crime. Three boys, ages 14, 15, and 15, were arrested on June 12 for robbery and gang participation.
Anyone with information about these gang-related incidents is encouraged to contact the SRPD Gang Crimes Team by calling 707-543-4021.