A Rohnert Park Man Settles Car Deal With A Semi-Automatic: Police

ROHNERT PARK, CA — An argument over a car deal ended with one man shot and another arrested for assault with a semi-automatic weapon.

The shooting happened Tuesday evening in the 2300 block of Mendocino Avenue in Santa Rosa.

But the events leading up to the shooting started earlier, according to police, when the suspected shooter, Robert Erickson, a 44-year-old resident of Rohnert Park, met with the victim and his girlfriend in a Santa Rosa parking lot to negotiate the sale of the girlfriend's car.

Erickson, who was accompanied by a woman, argued with the victim over the car, police said.

Erickson pulled out a gun and shot the victim in the thigh, took his cell phone, and left the parking lot with the woman, according to police.

A family member drove the victim to a local hospital to have the gunshot wound treated.

About 20 minutes after the incident was reported, an officer in the area saw Erickson and the woman near Brookwood and Fifth streets.

She was not involved in the shooting, police said.

While being detained, police said Erickson put a plastic bag and a .380 handgun wrapped in a piece of clothing.

Officers said they also found ammunition and a small baggy they suspected of being methamphetamine.

Police arrested Erickson for assault with a firearm, assault with a semi-automatic firearm, felon in possession of a firearm, and robbery.