One killed, three others hit by gunfire in Santa Rosa after group watches illegal fireworks: police

SANTA ROSA, Calif. - A man was killed and three others were hurt early Monday in what police say was a gang-related shooting in southwest Santa Rosa.   

The shooting was reported shortly after midnight in the 1500 block of Beachwood Drive in the city's Roseland neighborhood, where a large group had gathered to set off illegal fireworks, Sgt. Christopher Mahurin said.   

Javier Montes, 35, was killed in the shooting, his sister Nora Montes said.

The victim in a fatal shooting in Santa Rosa on the Fourth of July was identified by family as 35-year-old Javier Montes.

"It's hard to grasp," she said as she surveyed the street corner where her brother was killed. "I'm still in shock. I can't believe it."

"So it looks like it was related to a gang shooting," he said. "We're trying to identify if anyone who was participating in the block party had any gang participation and if they were the ones being targeted. It's unclear if the first three victims, in particular, were the specific targets or just happened to be the same block party where other people were being targeted."

On Monday morning, police were still on scene, which included several cars with bullet holes in the windows and hoods. Boxes of empty fireworks lay scattered on the street. 

A silver Honda Accord drove by and witnesses told police they heard gang challenges coming from the car, then shots were fired from inside the car.   

Montes died at the scene. A 16-year-old boy and a 17-year-old girl were hit by gunfire, police said. The boy is expected to survive. The girl was in critical condition. All the residents are from Santa Rosa. 

As the car was driving away, someone in the street fired at the car and then shots came again from the vehicle, hitting a 29-year-old woman outside her house.

The Honda then crashed into a parked car and an unknown number of people got out and ran away, police said.

The investigation is ongoing and the Santa Rosa Police Department encourages anyone who has information that would assist with the investigation to contact SRPD through its online Tip Line: www.SRCity.org/CrimeTips. 

A reward of up to $2,500 is being offered by the Sonoma County Alliance Community Engagement and Safety Rewards Fund.  

The reward is for information leading to the arrest of the suspect or suspects involved in this shooting and death.