SANTA ROSA — On December 31st around 2 a.m., police received a call reporting shots fired at an apartment complex on Piner Road. Upon arrival, deputies discovered 20-year-old local Damien Wadell Toney Jr. on the ground with bullet wounds to his torso and arm. Though treated by medical personnel at the scene and transported to Memorial Hospital, he later succumbed to his injuries.
A crime scene was established where he’d been found and a search was underway. While no suspects were immediately identified, witnesses recounted that the shots seemed to have followed some sort of dispute.
Apartment complex at Piner Road — Santa Rosa
Later that same day, a 15-year-old male juvenile, who was later identified as Joseph Mario Varela of Santa Rosa, was arrested and booked for Damien’s murder. The dispute in question had apparently began at a nearby party and continued outside, at which point the suspect drew a gun, fired, and immediately ran and hid at the nearby home of an acquaintance.
Varela will be charged as an adult in this case due to the seriousness of the offense, and his use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. While details are still being gathered, the gun believed to have been used in the shooting was recovered during the investigation. Anyone with more information relating to the case are encouraged to contact the Santa Rosa Police Department Violent Crimes Investigation Team at (707) 543 – 3590.
Read more:
SFGate: Man shot to death in Santa Rosa
SantaRosa.Patch.com: Police Say 15-Year-Old Shot and Killed Man in Santa Rosa
KTVU: Teen charged as adult in Santa Rosa New Year’s Eve slaying
Ken Kiunke contributed to this article
