“CDFW wardens are often of great assistance to local law enforcement officers responding to, or investigating violent crimes. They are highly trained and often some of the closest officers to crimes in progress. Those wardens with K9 partners offer additional help in locating such things as firearms and suspects.” – CSLEA President Alan Barcelona
ATASCADERO – On January 1, 2023, at approximately 3:28 a.m., Atascadero Police officers responded to Las Lomas Avenue regarding a female juvenile reporting her ex-boyfriend was sending her threatening messages.
Officers checked the area and were unable to locate the juvenile suspect. While continuing their search for the suspect, officers heard a number of shots fired in the area of the juvenile victim’s residence.
Officers could not determine if a shooting had actually occurred but obtained descriptions of two male juveniles seen running from the area. A short time later an officer witnessed two male juveniles on El Camino Real who matched the description of the two seen running from the area where shots had been fired. The two ran from the officer. Officers pursued and established a perimeter. One of the juvenile suspects eventually surrendered. The juvenile who surrendered was the suspect who had been sending the threatening messages earlier in the evening.
While this was occurring, officers were notified that the Sheriff’s Office was in route to Twin Cities Hospital regarding a juvenile victim of gunshot wounds being treated in the emergency room. An Atascadero officer responded and contacted the juvenile victim who stated he had been shot while sitting in a vehicle near the address on Las Lomas Avenue. The gunshot victim was treated for several gunshot wounds and was released from the hospital.
Atascadero Police detectives and crime scene unit were called in to conduct the investigation. A K-9 from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, trained in the detection of firearms, was requested to assist with the search of the area the juvenile suspect was apprehended. A firearm was recovered.
The suspect was transported and booked at San Luis Obispo County Juvenile Services for attempted homicide.
The Atascadero Police Department is continuing to conduct follow up investigation at this time.
