Cemetery Groundskeeper Arrested After Shooting in Cemetery

On 5/27/23, at 7:12 am, SRPD Officers were dispatched to the report of a subject with a gun and a shot being fired in Franklin Cemetery. SRPD Officers arrived and located the reporting party and victim.  SRPD Officers also located a crime scene with a 9 mm shell casing left behind.

The victim stated he was talking on his phone when an adult male approached him on a bike. The man on the bike was wearing a blue work uniform and a black beanie cap and appeared to be a cemetery employee. The employee was later identified as Alejandro Guerrero-Barragan, a 29-year- old Santa Rosa resident. Guerrero-Barragan confronted the victim about “people yelling on his property” and demanded the victim leave. Guerrero-Barragan then pulled a firearm from his waistband, pointed it at the victim, and demanded he leave. Guerrero-Barragan then pointed the firearm down and fired a round that struck the ground a few feet away from the victim.  The victim left the scene, and the suspect was seen riding his bike eastbound on the cemetery grounds. 

SRPD Officers arrived and located Guerrero-Barragan on the north side of the cemetery just next to Evelyn Dr.  Guerrero-Barragan had on a blue work uniform and black beanie, and stated he was a grounds caretaker of Franklin Cemetery. Guerrero-Barragan was detained and interviewed while SRPD Officers conducted an extensive search for the firearm. The firearm has not been located yet.

Based on the officers’ investigation and the evidence obtained, Guerrero-Barragan was arrested and booked into the Sonoma County Jail for the following charges:

• 245(a)(4) PC – Assault with a Deadly Weapon
• 21810 PC – Possession of Brass Knuckles
• 21310 PC – Possession of a Dirk or Dagger
• 22210 PC – Possession of a Collapsible Baton

Media inquiries may be directed to Lieutenant Christopher Mahurin at cmahurin@srcity.org. SRPD case #23-6405