Santa Rosa police announced Thursday that two men were arrested in connection with a shooting outside a downtown bar on Aug. 2, bringing the number of arrests in the investigation to three. The shootings and arrests have renewed questions about public safety in the city’s nightlife corridor and about the role of alleged gang ties in violent incidents.
Arrests, charges and background
Investigators identified and arrested a 39-year-old Santa Rosa man and a 41-year-old man on Thursday, Sept. 3, saying both are suspected of roles in the early-morning shooting outside The Zoo in the 500 block of Barham Avenue. Authorities booked both men on suspicion of assault with a firearm, conspiracy and gang-related allegations, according to Santa Rosa police.
Police said the 39-year-old was also arrested on suspicion of possessing cocaine for sale. On Aug. 3 investigators arrested Edward Sciutto, 39, of Rohnert Park, after surveillance video identified him as the suspected gunman; court records show Sciutto pleaded not guilty Aug. 26 and remains in custody at the Sonoma County jail in lieu of bail.
"assault with a firearm, conspiracy and gang-related allegations, police said."
What happened the night of the shooting
The shooting occurred shortly before 1 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 2, after a reported confrontation in the bar’s parking lot. Police allege Sciutto produced a handgun and fired at a victim, striking him once in the arm. The victim was transported to a hospital and has since been released, officials said.
Investigators said they believe the incident involved people associated with rival gangs. The Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office is reviewing the cases against the two most recent arrestees; as of Thursday they had not been formally charged.
Criminal histories linked to arrests
Court and police records made public by investigators tie the arrested suspects to prior violent convictions. Sciutto previously served time after a conviction for voluntary manslaughter in the 2010 stabbing death of a 25-year-old outside a Santa Rosa birthday party. A jury in 2011 also found that killing was committed for the benefit of a gang, court records show.
The 41-year-old arrested Sept. 3 also has a past manslaughter conviction; he pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter in 2004 and admitted using a firearm in that killing. He was sentenced to six years in state prison, court documents show.
Local impact and unanswered questions
Business owners and residents near the Barham Avenue corridor have in recent years expressed concern about late-night violence and the spillover of regional gang conflicts into Santa Rosa’s downtown entertainment district. Authorities have not released further details about possible gang affiliations or motives beyond saying investigators believed people from rival gangs were involved in the Aug. 2 confrontation.
Police did not provide names for the two men arrested Sept. 3 beyond their ages. The Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office will determine whether to file formal charges after reviewing the investigation. If charged, the suspects would face criminal proceedings in Sonoma County Superior Court.
- Date of incident: Aug. 2, shortly before 1 a.m.
- Location: The Zoo, 500 block of Barham Avenue, Santa Rosa
- Victim: Shot once in the arm; released from hospital
- Arrests to date: Three men identified by police in connection with the shooting
| Suspect | Age | Allegations / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Edward Sciutto | 39 | Identified as suspected gunman; pleaded not guilty Aug. 26; prior voluntary manslaughter conviction |
| Unnamed | 39 | Arrested Sept. 3 on suspicion of assault with a firearm, conspiracy, gang-related allegations; suspected of possessing cocaine for sale |
| Unnamed | 41 | Arrested Sept. 3 on suspicion of assault with a firearm, conspiracy, gang-related allegations; prior manslaughter conviction |
Santa Rosa police have urged anyone with additional information about the Aug. 2 shooting to contact the department’s investigative unit. The case remains under active investigation as the district attorney reviews possible charges against the two most recent arrestees.
Officials did not provide a timeline for when formal charges might be filed. The community and downtown businesses will be watching how prosecutors and law enforcement proceed as the case moves through the legal system.
