4 Teens Arrested In 'Gang-Motivated' Stabbing: Police

SONOMA COUNTY, CA—Four suspected gang participants were arrested in connection with a stabbing Wednesday morning in Santa Rosa.

Around 8:20 am, the Santa Rosa Police Department received a 911 call regarding a victim who had been stabbed in the area of Boyd Street and Hickory Circle, Santa Rosa police Sgt. Travis Menke said.

Officers and medical personnel were immediately dispatched to the scene. As officers arrived, they saw the victim, a 15-year-old boy from Santa Rosa, fall to the ground with stab wounds. The victim had several significant wounds and was bleeding heavily from a puncture wound to his chest, Menke said.

As paramedics were arriving, patrol officers rendered first aid, including applying a chest seal to the victim. In addition to the stab wound, the victim suffered significant lacerations to his wrist, head and neck. The victim was taken to an area hospital with serious, life-threatening injuries, Menke said.

Officers conducted an initial investigation at the scene and learned that four or five male suspects arrived in a car and confronted the victim and his 15-year-old friend as they were waiting at a city bus stop on Boyd Street. The suspects threatened the boys and yelled gang-related challenges, Menke said.

"The four suspects accosted the victims and tried to rob them of their property," Menke said. "Several of the suspects were reported to have been brandishing knives at the victims during the robbery. A physical confrontation ensued during the struggle over the property, and at one point, the victim was stabbed."

The suspects left the scene in a car which a witness described to police. The witness also took note of the license plate number. That information was relayed to officers and detectives as they began searching the area. Offices soon learned the car had been reported stolen.

Around 9 a.m., a detective with the SRPD Gang Crimes Team located the car parked in the 2900 block of Bay Village Circle. Additional detectives and uniformed officers responded and began surveilling the car.

At 9:54 a.m., a detective saw three males come out of a nearby apartment. Officers in marked SRPD patrol vehicles responded and approached the car to detain the suspects, one of whom ran off. After a foot pursuit, the suspect was apprehended and taken into custody without further incident.

As officers worked to take the remaining two suspects into custody, one ran from the car and refused to comply. After numerous commands to submit to arrest, an officer deployed a Taser on the boy.

"Because the suspect was involved in an extremely violent crime, it was believed he posed a significant threat to public safety," Menke said.

The Electronic Control Device, commonly referred to by the brand name Taser, is intended to instantly and temporarily incapacitate a person by delivering an electric shock.

The first deployment failed so the officer deployed the device again and detained the suspect without further incident. Per SRPD policy, the suspect was medically evaluated after being Tasered. Menke said there were no injuries to the suspect.

Once the three suspects were in custody, officers searched the car and found a knife believed to have been used in the incident. An article of clothing belonging to one of the victims was also found, police said.

Four knives were recovered from the car and police said one of the suspects was found with three folding knives.

As the investigation progressed, a fourth suspect was identified and apprehended at another location. The four juveniles ages 15 and 15 were booked into Juvenile Hall on suspicion of attempted murder, robbery, possession of a stolen car, participating in a street gang, and gang enhancement.

The suspects were identified only as two 15-year-olds from Santa Rosa, a 16-year-old from Santa Rosa, and a 15-year-old from Sonoma. Their names will not be released as they are juveniles, police said.

The stabbing victim was treated for serious injuries and admitted to the hospital for continued care. The second robbery victim did not suffer any injuries. There was no evidence to support that either victim was a gang participant or associate, Menke said.