3 Homicide Suspects Arrested, 1 Still At Large
Photo: Stock Image
Originally Published By: Santa Rosa PD
“The Santa Rosa Police Department is Investigating the Second Homicide of 2023
On Thursday, February 2, 2023, at 1:50 am, SRPD officers and detectives began investigating the second homicide in Santa Rosa for 2023. Detectives knew there were three victims, one deceased and two with serious injuries. Witnesses and evidence on the scene helped identify three possible suspects, but they were initially unknown. The SRPD Violent Crime Team was able to identify suspects with surveillance footage, prior contacts with suspects, and witness statements.
On February 2, 2023, at 3:45 pm, SRPD detectives with assistance from SRPD SWAT operators located Richard Fabian Ponce (a 25-year-old Windsor resident, previously of Santa Rosa) driving in downtown Windsor. Officers stopped Ponce and took him into custody, without incident. A search warrant at his residence in the 500 block of Christopher Way in Windsor, was conducted shortly after Ponce’s arrest. Ponce was later booked into the Sonoma County Jail for homicide and attempted homicide.
On February 3, 2023, at 7:30 pm, Evelina Trujillo (a 35-year-old Santa Rosa resident), was arrested outside her residence in the 3900 block of Martina Av. After her arrest, SRPD detectives served a search warrant at her residence. Trujillo was later booked into the Sonoma County Jail for accessory after the fact to homicide.
On February 6, 2023, at 8:00 pm, SRPD officers arrested Braulio Garcia III (a 36-year-old Santa Rosa resident) while driving near Mendocino Avenue and Steele Lane. After his arrest, detectives served a search warrant at Garcia’s residence in the 1000 block of Modoc Drive, Santa Rosa. Garcia was later booked into the Sonoma County Jail for homicide and attempted homicide. Garcia and Trujillo are boyfriend and girlfriend.
***Outstanding Suspect***
SRPD Violent Crime detectives have identified Louis Campos (a 39-year-old Santa Rosa resident) as the third main suspect in the shooting/stabbing incident. Detectives have been unable to locate Campos. Anyone with information about Campos’ whereabouts is encouraged to call SRPD at our non-emergency number 707-528-5222. Please do not try and contact Campos, as he is wanted for homicide and attempted homicide. The below photo is an older picture of Campos, but he still looks similar, except he has shorter hair.
A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered by the Sonoma County Alliance Community Engagement and Safety Rewards Fund. The reward is for information leading to the arrest of Louis Campos.
***Victim Updates***
There are three victims associated with this incident:
1) An adult male victim has been released from the hospital
2) An adult male victim is currently in stable condition at a local hospital. He is expected to survive his injuries
3) Asante VanDyke was a 27-year-old Santa Rosa resident who died from his injuries. VanDyke’s injuries/cause of death was believed to be caused by stab wounds.
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Original Media Release
On Thursday, February 2, 2023, at 1:50 am, the Santa Rosa Police Department’s Communication Center received a phone call from a local hospital reporting that three adult males arrived with stab wounds. Officers contacted the victims and identified the crime scene at the intersection of Mendocino Avenue and Carrillo Street.
The victims were in their 20s and 30s, and each victim had stab wounds and/or gunshot wounds. One victim (in his 20s) was pronounced dead at the hospital. The other two victims are in critical condition with life-threatening injuries. The extent of all three victims’ injuries is still under investigation because they are receiving significant medical treatment. More information about their injuries will be released later, and the identity of the deceased will be released after the next of kin has been notified. The identity of any surviving victims will not be released.
Detectives from the SRPD Violent Crime Team have taken over the investigation. Based on the preliminary investigation, it appears the victims were in an argument with an unknown number of suspects at the intersection of Mendocino Avenue and Carrillo Street. The argument escalated to violence when the suspects began stabbing and shooting the victims. No additional information about the suspects is available, and no additional information about the weapons will be released at this time.
Anyone with information about this investigation is encouraged to contact the SRPD Violent Crime Team at 707-543-3590. If you live in the area of Mendocino Avenue and Carrillo Street, please check all personal surveillance cameras for footage of the incident and reach out to detectives. Anyone with information can also contact SRPD through our online Tip Line: www.srcity.org/CrimeTips.
A reward of up to $2,500 is being offered by the Sonoma County Alliance Community Engagement and Safety Rewards Fund. The reward is for information leading to the arrest of the suspects involved in this homicide.”
