Anthony Yates
Authorities have arrested a California restaurant owner after he allegedly fired a weapon during a dispute with a customer. He now faces multiple charges, including Assault with a Deadly Weapon.
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What happened: According to a press release by the Santa Rosa Police Department (SRPD), officers responded to reports of a shooting on September 28 at 4:08 AM. The incident occurred at the Dos Culturas Restaurant on Santa Rosa Avenue.
- Officers determined that an assault involving a firearm had occurred, although no one was hit by gunfire. Witnesses identified the shooter as the restaurant owner, 48-year-old Moises Flores. His 37-year-old victim was reportedly still at the scene.
- Detectives with the Violent Crimes Investigation Team determined that Flores and the victim were both drinking inside the restaurant at the time. An argument broke out between the two concerning the bill.
- The argument escalated into a physical altercation outside the establishment. Authorities believe Flores went back into the restaurant during the argument and retrieved a gun from inside. He reportedly pointed it toward the victim and fired.
The Restaurant Owner Was On Felony Probation
Previous convictions: SRPD reveals that detectives found a vehicle parked outside with a shattered window after the altercation. Detectives believe Flores smashed it with his weapon.
- The news release reveals that the restaurant owner is on felony probation owing to a 2023 conviction for firearm and DUI violations. When investigators searched the establishment, they found a loaded 357 revolver and ammunition in the kitchen.
- The male victim reportedly suffered minor injuries during the fight.
Authorities took Flores into custody without incident and booked him into the Sonoma County Jail. He reportedly faces the following charges:
- Assault with a Deadly Weapon (firearm)
- Shooting at an Occupied Vehicle
- Violation of Probation
- Felon in Possession of a Firearm
A deadly bar altercation: Tennessee authorities responded to a fatal shooting at a bar last month. The suspect, 24-year-old William Charles Thomas Sullivan, was reportedly kicked out earlier that evening.
- Sullivan allegedly claimed he then fired shots at the bar accidentally. The bar owner confronted him outside and was fatally shot.
- McMinn County Sheriff Joe Guy explained that a brief chase ensued before officers apprehended the suspect in Meigs County.
