Petaluma, CA — A 19-year-old Petaluma man was arrested over the weekend after allegedly firing a shot at a person and then crashing his truck while attempting to flee the scene. The incident occurred late Saturday night, prompting a swift response from the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office.
At approximately 10 p.m. on Saturday, deputies were dispatched to the 1000 block of Sonoma Mountain Road in Petaluma following reports of a shooting. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the suspect, identified as Gabriel Chavez of Petaluma, was in a pickup truck with another individual. The truck was reportedly blocking the entrance to a private property.
When several people approached the truck and asked the occupants to move, Chavez allegedly pointed a handgun at one of them and fired a shot toward the individual. Following the shooting, Chavez fled the scene in the truck but lost control of the vehicle and crashed shortly after, still on Sonoma Mountain Road.
Responding deputies found Chavez and his passenger at the crash site. During their investigation, authorities discovered an unregistered handgun, five high-capacity magazines, and 48 rounds of ammunition hidden in nearby vegetation, where Chavez had been standing.
The passenger in the truck was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment following the crash. Chavez, on the other hand, was taken into custody without further incident. He now faces multiple charges, including assault with a deadly weapon, shooting from a vehicle, unlawful possession of a firearm, exhibition of a loaded firearm, negligent discharge of a firearm, carrying a concealed weapon in public, and possession of high-capacity magazines.
Chavez remains in custody as of Monday afternoon, with bail set at $75,000. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting and the events that led to the crash.
This incident is the latest in a series of firearm-related arrests in the area. The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office urges anyone with additional information to come forward.