In Sebastopol, search is on for suspects in triple shooting

An intense search was on for any suspects in a triple shooting in rural Sebastopol Saturday night that left one dead and two in critical condition.

“We believe that we have three people that have been shot by parties unknown, and we are trying to come up with an answer to what happened,” Sonoma County Sheriff’s Lt. Ed Hoener said.

Detectives and deputies worked through the night to try to solve the triple shooting south of Sebastopol that killed one man and sent two others to the hospital, but no arrests have been made, sheriff’s officials said.

Officials were “working diligently through the night to solve a murder” that took place at about 8:15 p.m. Saturday in a rural neighborhood in the ?5000 block of Highway ?116 South.

Despite reports on social media of arrests, “We haven’t made any arrests yet, but we do have solid leads that we’re working on,” sheriff’s officials posted on Facebook.

It’s unclear if the presence of marijuana on the property had anything to do with the incident. A greenhouse full of mature marijuana plants could be seen on the property between the front house and the rear unit where the shooting took place.

The Sheriff’s office was not yet prepared to say whether the marijuana had anything to do with the shooting, Hoener said.

One man was killed inside the house, Sheriff’s Lt. John Molinari said. Two people were wounded - a man and a woman, according to initial reports - and rushed to a Santa Rosa hospital with life-threatening injuries, authorities said.

The conditions of the two were not immediately available.

The shooting was first reported by one of the victims, Sgt. Spencer Crum said. Investigators were not able to discuss key details about the shooting, including the events that led to the shooting, Molinari said late Saturday.

“It is still in the beginning stages,” he said.

Deputies and detectives with the Violent Crimes unit responded to the home, located on a long driveway off the west side of Highway 116 South. Four dogs were taken away from the property and placed in an animal control truck.

Several detectives remained on the scene Sunday morning, one of their vehicles towing a trailer full of investigative gear.

A small white tent could be seen in the driveway close to the small home, which a neighbor said for years had been a cabinet shop before it was converted to a living space by the new owners.

The neighbor, who declined to give his name, said the property was sold about three years ago and both units are on a single parcel.

A coroner’s van arrived at the property around 9:15 Sunday morning and passed the crime tape that blocked public access to the site.

Officials had no suspect information to release Sunday, but Hoener said it is a “very active and dynamic investigation” and the department is “working this case very aggressively.”

“The Sheriff’s Department is doing everything we can within our power to bring this to a resolution and we will keep the community updated as best we can,” Hoener said.

You can reach Staff Writer Kevin McCallum at 521-5207 or kevin.mccallum@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @srcitybeat. Staff Writer Martin Espinoza contributed to this report.