Santa Rosa Police Shoot Man During Journalist Ride-Along

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A Santa Rosa police officer shot and critically wounded a man during a confrontation that unfolded while the officer was on a ride-along with a photojournalist. The incident began as a report of an unwanted person and escalated after the man was uncooperative, leading the officer to deploy a Taser and then open fire.

Why it matters

Police ride-alongs with journalists are intended to provide transparency, but this incident raises questions about use of force protocols and how such encounters are handled when the public and media are present. The shooting also highlights ongoing tensions between law enforcement and unhoused individuals in the Santa Rosa area.

The details

According to police, officers responded to a report of an unwanted person who may have been sleeping in a driveway. An officer contacted the man, who was not cooperative and the situation escalated. The officer deployed a Taser, but it had little effect, and the confrontation continued until the officer fired her weapon, striking the man with life-threatening injuries. A photographer on a ride-along with the officer captured footage of the incident, and the officer's body camera was also activated.

• The shooting occurred around 11 a.m. on March 13, 2026 near 10th and Washington streets in Santa Rosa.
• Police were initially dispatched to the scene around 11 a.m. to respond to the report of an unwanted person.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The Sonoma County District Attorney's Office and the sheriff's office are conducting a thorough investigation into the shooting. The officer who fired her weapon has been placed on routine paid administrative leave and will be formally interviewed at a later date.