UPDATE #2: SRPD Investigating Sonoma County Sheriff’s Officer-Involved Shooting  
Incident 

Detectives with the Santa Rosa Police Department (SRPD) continue to investigate the March 4, 2024, officer-involved shooting that occurred after a man with a rifle near Todd Road and Standish Avenue fired at Sonoma County Sheriff deputies. Following the initial assault on the deputies, the suspect led deputies on a pursuit which ended in a collision in the 3200 block of Stony Point Road. Four deputies were injured during this incident, one critically, and the suspect died at the scene of the collision.

Based on the circumstances of the incident, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) invoked the Sonoma County Law Enforcement Employee-involved Critical Incident Protocol and requested the Santa Rosa Police Department (SRPD) and the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office to lead an independent investigation into the events that led to the officer-involved shooting. The Santa Rosa Police Department’s Violent Crime Team has taken over the investigation. This update intends to provide a more comprehensive timeline of events and provide information about the cause of death of the suspect, identified earlier this week as Jose Luis Villasenor Cervantes, a 53-year-old resident of Santa Rosa.

On Mon. March 4, 2024, at approximately 12:10 a.m., the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center received a 911 call from a witness reporting a man, identified later as Cervantes, brandished a firearm in a threatening way outside of La Hacienda del Toro, a restaurant and nightclub located at 3660 Stony Point Road, in unincorporated Santa Rosa. The restaurant is located on the northeast corner of Stony Point Road and Todd Road. Another witness reported Cervantes had a rifle. Witnesses provided dispatch a description of Cervantes, including his clothing, and advised Cervantes was driving away from the restaurant in a white 4-door vehicle. At approximately 12:11 a.m., five deputies began responding to the area.

At approximately 12:15:03 a.m., a deputy tells dispatch via radio he believes he was behind Cervantes’ vehicle. The deputy advises the suspect vehicle had made a U-turn on Todd Road, and then began driving in circles. At approximately 12:15:28 a.m., the deputy attempts to conduct a high-risk traffic stop on the suspect vehicle in a parking lot near the intersection of Todd Road and Standish Avenue. Before the deputy can shift his patrol car into park, Cervantes exits his vehicle and immediately begins shooting at the deputy with an AK-47 style assault rifle. The deputy quickly moves his vehicle to another area of the parking lot, exits, and takes a position of cover behind his patrol vehicle. At approximately 12:15:51 a.m., the deputy advises dispatch via radio “shots fired”. Additional deputies rush to the area. 

At approximately 12:16 a.m., a deputy advised dispatch that Cervantes returned to his vehicle and was rummaging around the passenger area of the car. Deputies gave Cervantes multiple commands. Cervantes quickly exits the vehicle and immediately begins firing upon deputies for a second time. Four deputies returned fire. During the exchange of gunfire, three deputies were injured during this exchange of gunfire.

At approximately 12:18 a.m., Cervantes returns to his vehicle and flees westbound on Todd Road, with deputies in pursuit behind him. Cervantes pulls into the parking lot of La Hacienda del Toro and begins to exit the vehicle. Deputies give Cervantes commands. A deputy fires one round at Cervantes when Cervantes fails to follow commands. 

At approximately 12:19 a.m., Cervantes exits the parking lot and begins driving northbound on Stony Point Road. Deputies continue to pursue Cervantes. At approximately 12:20 a.m., Cervantes’ vehicle collides head-on with a SCSO patrol vehicle in the 3200 block of Stony Point Road, coming to rest at that location. A deputy fires numerous rounds at Cervantes following the collision. 

Additional deputies arrived at the scene of the collision, pulled Cervantes from the vehicle, and detained him in handcuffs. Deputies requested medical personnel respond to the scene to treat Cervantes and four injured deputies. Officers with the Santa Rosa Police Department responded to the scene to assist with medical aid and traffic control. Deputies and officers rendered medical aidincluding CPR to Cervantes while waiting for medical personnel. Medical personnel arrived on the scene and assessed Cervantes. Cervantes was declared deceased by medical personnel at approximately 12:30 a.m.

On Wed., March 6, 2024, an autopsy was conducted on Cervantes by the Marin County Coroner’s Office. The preliminary autopsy report states Cervantes suffered three notable non-life-threatening and survivable injuries and two lethal non-survivable injuries. The survivable injuries include a perforating gunshot wound to the right arm, a penetrating gunshot wound to the left knee, and a non-penetrating laceration to the right back of his head. The lethal non-survivable injuries include a laceration of the right atrium of the heart and a laceration to the inferior vena cava, both caused by blunt-force trauma to the chest likely caused by the impact of the collision. Cervantes also sustained three fractured ribs consistent with blunt-force trauma and additional chest injuries consistent with CPR. Cervantes’ official cause of death is to be determined pending toxicology results. 

It is estimated Cervantes fired a minimum of fifty 7.62x39mm rounds from an AK-47 at numerous deputies. Detectives are continuing to investigate the number of rounds fired.

Four deputies were injured during this incident. One deputy sustained a laceration to his left hand, requiring 15 sutures. A second deputy was injured by shrapnel lacerating her right hand. This same deputy had damage to her body-worn camera and her pepper spray, both of which were worn on the chest and torso. Additional shrapnel fragments were found on the exterior of her body armor. A third deputy suffered several projectile wounds to his lower right leg, possibly from a gunshot wound. A tourniquet was applied at the scene to control the bleeding from his injury. A fourth deputy remains in the hospital recovering from his injuries and detectives have been unable to speak with him.

Detectives with the SRPD Violent Crimes Investigations Team continue to investigate this incident. Additional information will be released as it becomes available throughout the investigation.   

For media inquiries, contact Sgt. Patricia Seffens at 707-543-3634 or pseffens@srcity.org.