The following is a statement issued by the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office. The information has not been proven in a court of law and any individuals described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty:
Early this morning, Violent Crimes Detectives arrested Lloban Martinez Soto, 38 years old, Santa Rosa, for the murder of Jesus Mendez, 34 years old, Santa Rosa.
Yesterday at approximately 2:40 pm, deputies were dispatched to the 700 block of Casa Grande Road for a shooting. Deputies and medical personnel arrived and found Mendez in a carport suffering from gunshot wounds. Mendez was pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel.
A witness at the scene saw a red car fleeing after the shooting. At approximately 2:50 pm, a Sergeant working in Sonoma Valley heard the “be on the lookout” and spotted a car matching the description. The Sergeant tried to follow the car as it sped away from him. The car was found abandoned in the 19000 block of Bay Street. Deputies gathered information and found Martinez Soto at a house in the 700 block of Center Street.
All occupants of the house except Martinez Soto came out after deputies gave multiple announcements at the scene. The Sheriff’s Office SWAT and Hostage Negotiations Team responded to the house. Martinez Soto remained barricaded inside the home for approximately 6 hours before he surrendered. Martinez Soto was taken into custody and later booked into the Sonoma County Jail for murder. He is being held on a no-bail warrant. No additional people were found inside the house.
Our condolences go out to the family and friends of Jesus Mendez during this difficult time.
