Rohnert Park police: Man in custody who shot estranged wife

A Rohnert Park man wanted by police in the shooting of his estranged wife was arrested Sunday when detectives tracked him to Santa Rosa, police said.

Police say Cipriano Perez-Velazquez, 44, shot his wife during a brief altercation late Friday night outside of her Rohnert Park home after previously threatening to kill her. The woman, who suffered a chest wound, has been treated and released from a hospital.

Detectives had been searching for Velazquez since the shooting and arrested him and an acquaintance Sunday night in Santa Rosa. The second man was wanted by Sonoma County sheriff’s detectives in a stabbing, Rohnert Park Sgt. Jeff Justice said Monday.

Velazquez was booked into the Sonoma County Jail, suspected of attempted murder, domestic violence, shooting at an occupied vehicle and for five warrants issued before Friday’s shooting.

His bail was set at ?$1 million and he remained in custody Monday afternoon.

Velazquez and his wife had recently separated amid domestic violence allegations, including threats to her life made earlier in the month, which were reported to Santa Rosa police.

On Wednesday night, she called Rohnert Park police, saying Velazquez had threatened her during a phone call. Officers arrived at the house while the man was still on the line, making threats, Justice said.

Officers who’d been looking for him since that night were called to the Alta Avenue house again at about 11:30 p.m. Friday when the shooting was reported.

His wife was arriving home after getting off work when Velazquez appeared, police said. She attempted to back away in her car, sideswiping Velazquez’ vehicle, when he fired at her through her car’s window, the sergeant said.

The couple’s daughter called 911 and told dispatchers the shooter was her father. He’d arrived at the home by car but fled on foot after the shooting, disappearing onto the Copeland Creek trail.

Justice, who supervises violent crime investigations, said detectives learned Velazquez was staying at a home on Metaxa Court in Santa Rosa. They began watching the house and other areas in the city where he was known to go, Justice said.

On Sunday night, detectives followed Velazquez as he drove from the house to an apartment complex on Stony Point Road.

Detectives ordered Velazquez and another man in the car out at gunpoint. Both men gave false names, Justice said.

He identified the passenger as Martin Mondragon Corona, 31, of Santa Rosa. Corona was taken into custody on the felony arrest warrant, suspicion of hiding a wanted felon and carrying methamphetamine. His bail was set at $85,000.

A search of the Metaxa Court home turned up a loaded .357-caliber revolver, found in the living room along with numerous bullets and a spent casing. Justice said it was the same caliber as the handgun the man had told the victim he would use to shoot her.

Velazquez has been arrested repeatedly by Rohnert Park police and other local agencies, Justice said. His outstanding warrants involved domestic violence, ?car theft and grand theft, police said.

You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 521-5412 or randi.rossmann@pressdemocrat.com or on Twitter@rossmannreport.