Rohnert Park police: Woman shot by estranged husband

A 37-year-old Rohnert Park woman was shot in the chest by her estranged husband as she returned home from work, police said Saturday.

The woman was pulling into her driveway in the 500 block of Alta Avenue at about 11:50 p.m. Friday when the man identified as Cipriano Perez-?Velazquez, 44, approached her car with a gun, Sgt. Jeff Justice said.

She tried to back away from him, pulling onto the street, but he chased her and shot her through the window, leaving her with a non-life-threatening wound, Justice said.

Perez-Velazquez fled on foot toward Copeland Creek and remains at large, Justice said.

Police continued to search for him Saturday night. They sought tips from the public but cautioned against contacting him because he is considered armed and dangerous.

“We’re trying to track him down,” Justice said.

The woman, who works as a janitor, was being treated at an area hospital. Doctors were continuing to evaluate her Saturday, he said.

Perez-Velazquez was described as the father of her four children. He moved out about a month ago amid allegations of domestic violence, Justice said.

On Wednesday, the woman reported Perez-Velazquez threatened to shoot and kill her before he let her leave him, Justice said.

As she returned home from work late Friday, he appeared to try to make good on the promise.

The armed man came at her before she had a chance to get out of the car, Justice said.

The couple’s 17-year-old daughter, who called 911, ran outside in time to see her father chasing her mother down the street with a gun, Justice said.

She heard what appears to be a single shot fired at her mother, the sergeant said.

Perez-Velazquez has five active warrants for his arrest including one alleging misdemeanor domestic battery and another for suspicion of felony vehicle theft, Justice said.

Police released a booking photo of him taken in October. He was described as 5-foot-5, 180 pounds, last seen wearing a gray beanie and black jacket.

You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 568-5312 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter ?@ppayne