San Rafael, CA – The San Rafael Police Department is investigating several acts of violence Friday night and early Saturday morning, including shootings that wounded two people and a stabbing that wounded one. The incidents happened after peaceful hours-long celebrations of Guatemalan Independence Day had ended at Northgate Mall and the 1100 block of Andersen Drive. After those crowds dispersed, others gathered at several locations in the Canal Neighborhood where the violent crimes occurred. 

Shootings:

At 10:22 PM, witnesses reported gunshots had been fired in the 100 block of Novato Street.  Upon arrival, officers located a 25-year-old male victim who had been shot two times.  SRPD implemented life-saving efforts and evacuated the victim out of the area in a police car, where they met awaiting San Rafael Fire Department paramedics.  The victim was transported to a local area hospital with life-threatening injuries.  Leads were developed at the scene, and this case is actively being investigated to determine the identities of the suspects responsible.

At 1:30 AM, SRPD received notification from a local hospital that a gunshot victim had arrived in their emergency room.  It was learned that the 20-year-old male victim had been shot somewhere in San Rafael.  The involved was uncooperative with officers during the preliminary investigation into what occurred and where the incident took place.  The victim was being treated for a non-life-threatening injury.

Stabbing:

At 12:30 AM, A fight broke out, and a 24-year-old male victim was stabbed.  The victim was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

At the time of this press release, SRPD officers and detectives are still investigating these crimes.  We are actively seeking the public’s assistance for information about any of these cases.  If anyone has videos and photographs of the events, we ask that they be provided to SRPD Detectives.

Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call San Rafael Police at (415) 485-3000. Tips can also be made online at http://www.srpd.org/tips.

Police Readiness for Independence Day:

The San Rafael Police Department had increased personnel and patrols on Friday to safeguard our community’s gatherings and celebration events related to Guatemalan Independence Day.  An additional patrol shift was added to the existing patrol shift to assist with an expected number of calls for service and incidents.  

SRPD took these proactive measures this year after several incidents occurred during last year’s Guatemalan Independence Day gatherings and celebrations.  Our goal was to ensure the public’s safety during this community-important recognized holiday.

SRPD jointly worked with our allied Marin County Law Enforcement Agencies from the Marin County Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol, Novato Police, Central Marin Police Authority, Fairfax Police, Ross Police, and Mill Valley Police to provide additional resources.

Just after 5:00 PM, SRPD officers monitored activities at several Guatemalan Independence Day events that took place on the private property of the Northgate Mall in Terra Linda and at a parking lot in the 1100 block of Andersen Drive.  The celebrations were peaceful and vibrant, with over 1,500 attendees confined to both locations.  Just after 9:00 PM, these celebrations ended with no major incidents and only minor complaints of noise and music playing.

At the same time as the events ended at the previously mentioned locations, large gatherings took place throughout the Canal Neighborhood along Medway Road, Canal Street, Pickleweed Park, and several other cross streets.  By 9:15 PM, the gatherings became large enough that traffic jams began to occur.   SRPD maintained a presence and had officers located throughout the Canal Neighborhood with the goal of ensuring community members celebrated peacefully. 

It was estimated that hundreds of vehicles and well over a thousand onlookers were present for the gatherings in the Canal Neighborhood.

At midnight, SRPD officers began to clear a large crowd involving sideshow and reckless driving activity at Canal Street and Medway Road. While SRPD officers tried to clear the large gathering, additional violence broke out, and the San Rafael Police Department broadcast an emergency request for mutual from our Marin County Law Enforcement agencies.

Additional law enforcement personnel from the Marin County Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol, Novato Police, Central Marin Police Authority, Fairfax Police, Ross Police, and Mill Valley Police responded to the scene.  The additional resources cleared the scene and surrounding area without incident.

SRPD ordered the closure of Canal Street, Medway Road, Belvedere Street, Larkspur Street, Front Street, and Mill Street.

By 1:45 AM, officers cleared the area, and the closed surrounding streets were re-opened.