**UPDATE** Suspect Identified and Arrested

After diligently investigating this incident and following the many leads provided by the community, SRPD officers were able to identify the suspect in this incident and arrest the suspect at approximately 9:15 p.m. this evening at a home in Santa Rosa. Officers learned the suspect is a 13-year-old juvenile male, and therefore no additional details about his identity will be released. 

We would like to thank our community members for their assistance in helping officers identify the suspect in this case. As the new school year begins, we remain committed to working with our school partners to ensure a safe learning environment for all students, staff, and families, and we encourage everyone to continue reporting suspicious activity promptly.

Media inquiries can be directed to Sgt. Patricia Seffens, Public Information Officer, at 707-543-3634 or pseffens@srcity.org. 

SRPD Seeks Community Help in Identifying Suspect  

On August 11, 2026, at approximately 1:24 p.m., officers with the Santa Rosa Police Department (SRPD) were dispatched to J.X. Wilson Elementary School located at 246 Brittain Lane to a report of a suspicious person possibly armed with a knife in the athletic fields. Officers learned that the suspect pictured below approached a group of approximately 15 children participating in a summer program on the school campus and appeared to be trying to instigate a confrontation with the group. The program supervisor was present and asked the suspect to leave. A school official also confronted the suspect and noticed what appeared to be the handle of a knife, similar to a small kitchen knife, sticking out of the suspect’s pants pocket. She told the suspect to leave and that 911 was being called. The suspect then threatened to return to the campus and stab someone before fleeing the campus on a black electric scooter. The suspect did not brandish the knife during this incident.   

The school official immediately moved the children into a classroom and called 911 to report the incident. In addition to the summer program, many staff members were on campus at the time, and the school initiated a lockdown. Numerous SRPD officers responded to the area and conducted a thorough search of the campus and the surrounding area, including the use of a drone to search rooftops and areas inaccessible by officers. The suspect was not located during the search efforts. The school lifted the lockdown after approximately one hour.  

At the time of this notification, the suspect has yet to be identified. The suspect is described as a young adult or teenage Hispanic male, with brown eyes, approximately 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighing approximately 120 pounds. He was last seen wearing the clothing in the photograph: a black hooded sweatshirt, black face mask, black gloves, grey jeans, and black shoes. The suspect also appears to have a distinctive eye condition, commonly referred to as “lazy eye,” affecting his right eye.   

Anyone with information that may lead to the identification of the suspect is encouraged to contact Officer J. Richards at jrichards@srcity.org.   

The Santa Rosa Police Department remains committed to partnering with our local schools, students, families, and community members to help ensure a safe and secure learning environment for everyone. The safety of our students is a shared responsibility, and we encourage the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity or potential threats. If the situation is an emergency, call 911 immediately. For non-emergency concerns, please contact the Santa Rosa Police Department's non-emergency line at 707-528-5222. By working together, we can help maintain safe schools and support the well-being of all students throughout Santa Rosa.  

Santa Rosa Police Department case number 26-8627.  

Media inquiries can be directed to Sgt. Patricia Seffens, Public Information Officer, at 707-543-3634 or pseffens@srcity.org.