A Santa Rosa man suspected of killing a young man during what appeared to be a random encounter outside of a west Santa Rosa home was scheduled to be charged Tuesday with murder.
Latroy Clinton Sr., 39, didn't appear to have known victim Oscar Valencia, 23, of Santa Rosa, who was waiting outside of an acquaintance's home when the men reportedly exchanged words, according to new details police investigators released about the case.
Valencia, his brother and two other friends were waiting outside of a house at about 2 a.m. Saturday near Cumberland Street and Homestead Lane, Santa Rosa Police Sgt. Steve Fraga said. The group had apparently been clubbing and had dropped off a group of women at the home, he said.
They were waiting for at least some of the group to come back out when Clinton, who lived next door, returned home, Fraga said.
"There was a confrontation," Fraga said.
Neighbors reported hearing an argument.
One neighbor said she heard the shot and someone yell, "you better get the hell out of here."
Officers, dispatched to the area at 2:08 a.m., found Valencia, who had been shot in the head. He died at the scene, police said.
Officers followed a tip that a white van was seen speeding away from the area and put out an alert.
Clinton was arrested at about 6:30 a.m. following a high-speed vehicle pursuit and foot chase that originated in Santa Rosa and concluded along a Marin County stretch of Highway 101, according to official reports.
CHP officers found a large caliber handgun along the route of the pursuit that detectives believe may have been used during the crime, Fraga said.
Anyone with information about the case can call Santa Rosa police detectives at 543-3590.
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