Suspect arrested in fatal shooting of woman in Sebastopol

A Sebastopol woman was booked into the Sonoma County Jail early Friday on suspicion of shooting a homeless woman in front of her home.

Vanessa Ann Bardella, 52, was arrested after witnesses told Sebastopol officers she was in the area of Pleasant Hill Avenue North, west of downtown, just before 7 p.m. when a verbal argument and gunfire broke out, Sebastopol Interim Police Chief Don Mort said.

Officers found Cynthia Marie Janssen, a local homeless woman, with a gunshot wound to her face when they arrived at the home. She was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, where she later died, police said.

Bardella was taken into custody without incident, Mort said. She was being held at the Sonoma County Jail without bail and was scheduled to appear in court on Monday, jail logs showed.

Officers were still investigating why the women were arguing and whether they knew each other prior to the shooting, Mort said.

Anyone with information about shooting can call Sebastopol Police Department at 707-829-4400.

Staff Writer Ethan Varian contributed to this report.You can reach Staff Writer Nashelly Chavez at 707-521-5203.