Defendant was assaulted night of Rohnert Park sandwich shop shooting, attorney says

A 19-year-old woman accused of shooting a girl while working at a Rohnert Park Sandwich shop in November was being assaulted by the girl and three others when the shot was fired, her attorney said Wednesday.

Evan Zelig, a Santa Rosa-based defense attorney, disclosed this detail following a brief court appearance Wednesday morning for his client, Jade Cutrer, who pleaded not guilty to one count of felony possession of an unregistered and loaded gun.

Shortly after, Kevin Kilgore, deputy police chief with the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety, verified that citations for battery were issued to two members of the group, including the 16-year-old girl who was shot.

Sonoma County District Attorney Carla Rodriguez, citing the ages of the juveniles, said she couldn’t discuss whether charges were filed against the pair.

As for Cutrer, “We thought there was a valid self-defense claim,” Rodriguez said.

The disclosures are the latest details to come out in the obscure series of events that took place Nov. 13 at Sourdough & Co. on Commerce Boulevard.

Just before 6 p.m. that night, Cutrer was at work when she was confronted by the 16-year-old girl and three others, according to the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety.

Zelig reiterated previous reports that the “parties were known to each other,” but he wouldn’t say why Cutrer had a gun that night or what led to the confrontation.

Customers and employees were present but no other injuries were reported, police said.

Officers with the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety arrested Cutrer Nov. 13, 2022, as she fled from the sandwich shop. Zelig said Cutrer ran because she was trying to escape a dangerous situation.

“It was a safety, and fight-or-flight measure,” he said, adding Cutrer cooperated with police following her arrest.

Kilgore said Wednesday that an investigation by police determined Cutrer fired the gun.

She was originally arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, possession of a firearm without a serial number and child endangerment.

Cutrer was initially jailed, but was later released while the District Attorney’s Office considered charges. It eventually filed the felony count of gun possession in January.

Cutrer is scheduled to return to court April 27.

“She’s doing well and no longer works at that sandwich shop,” Zelig said.

You can reach Staff Writer Colin Atagi at colin.atagi@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @colin_atagi