Santa Rosa man jailed in shooting

A Santa Rosa man aiming to rekindle a relationship with the mother of his children was arrested early Monday after allegedly shooting a hole in her ceiling with an assault rifle, police said.

Gilberto Ruiz Avendano, 31, was taken into custody after he ran out the back of a house on Acacia Lane that was surrounded by a SWAT team, police said.

The incident began Sunday evening when a woman who lives on Acacia Lane came home to find Avendano in her house. The pair were neither dating nor living together, but an argument ensued over several issues, “including his desire to renew their relationship,” according to a Santa Rosa Police Department release.

Avendano also asked “to use her home to process a large amount of marijuana,” police said.

During the argument, Avendano allegedly pointed an assault-style weapon at the woman’s chest, and then fired a round into the ceiling. At that point, the woman fled with her children, leaving Avendano inside After police surrounded the home, he bolted out the back unarmed and was arrested, police said.

Searches of the Acacia Lane home and another residence connected to Avendano turned up evidence that corroborated the woman’s story, police said.

Sgt. Terry Anderson said a weapon that looked like an assault rifle was recovered, but he declined to provide additional details, citing the ongoing investigation.

Avendano was booked on four felonies: suspicion of child endangerment, assault with a deadly weapon, burglary and making criminal threats. His bail was set at $250,000.