No arrests in Forestville shooting that killed Santa Rosa man, critically injured another man

A 46-year-old Santa Rosa man was identified Saturday afternoon by the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office as the victim who died in a Forestville-area shooting Friday night.

Theros Frank Fountaine was one of two people shot and found in a field near River Road and Trenton-Healdsburg Road about 6:40 p.m.

Fountaine died at the scene while the other man was flown by helicopter to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. He remained in critical condition on life support Saturday. The Sheriff’s Office said he was not expected to survive. His name was not disclosed.

No arrests were reported Saturday and sheriff’s officials declined numerous requests to provide additional information about any search for suspects in the incident.

A massive ground and aerial manhunt began in the rural area just east of town soon after a jogger called 911 to report hearing gunshots and screams and seeing at least one person fall to the ground, according to law enforcement communications.

Detectives found a marijuana plot at the site of the killing; the Sheriff’s Office said it appears to be a factor in the shooting.

Family members of Fountaine, a graduate of Santa Rosa’s Montgomery High School and father of three grown children, did not dispute the Sheriff’s Office account but they said they did not know exactly what he was doing in the area where the shooting occurred.

The area is covered by vineyards and bisected by tributaries and the main stem of Mark West Creek. Law enforcement radio communications Friday night described a cornfield near where the victims were found.

No law enforcement presence could be seen Saturday from public roads in the area.

While no suspects were reported in custody, investigators think the shooting was an isolated incident, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Sgt. Spencer Crum, a department spokesman, indicated in an email that additional information, including a description of the crime scene and deputies’ actions overnight Friday, was being withheld to safeguard the inquiry.

“We aren’t releasing any more details right now, as information put out publicly could damage the investigation,” Crum said.

Tina Fountaine said two sheriff’s deputies came to her Santa Rosa home about 6 a.m. Saturday morning and told her about her husband’s death.

“He’s going to be very missed,” she said. “This is a stupid, senseless thing.”

Theros Fountaine worked with his wife in a Santa Rosa storage facility. Tina Fountaine said she last saw her husband before she went to work Friday afternoon.

“He said ‘Baby, I love you, I’ll see you later,’?” Fountaine said.

Brittany Hruby, Fountaine’s oldest daughter, described the second shooting victim as someone her father had been friends with for a few years.

Tina Fountaine said she thinks her husband was picked up and driven to the Forestville site Friday. She indicated he did not have his own vehicle.

“When I came home, his bike was here,” she said.

You can reach Staff Writer J.D. Morris at 707-521-5337 or jd.morris@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @thejdmorris. You can reach Staff Writer Christi Warren at 707-521-5205 or christi.warren@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @SeaWarren.