photo credit: Santa Rosa Police Department
Santa Rosa Police responded to the shooting near Comstock Middle School.

 Two 16-year-old boys who police say have known gang affiliations have been arrested after a shooting near Hilliard Comstock Middle School in Santa Rosa. 

Santa Rosa Police Sgt. Patricia Seffens says multiple calls about the shooting on Pawnee Street came in just after 4:30 Monday afternoon, January 13th, 2025.

“Officers immediately rushed to the area and located a 16-year-old juvenile male who had received two, possibly three gunshots to both of his legs. At the same time they were tending to that victim, including placing tourniquets on each of his legs, other officers were looking for the suspects who were reported as being seen running from the area toward Comstock Middle School," said Seffens.

Seffens says the two teen suspects ran through the middle school, prompting a school lock-down, but SRPD says responding officers were able to stop both of them within minutes.

Seffens says one of the suspects tried to get rid of a gun during the chase.

“We actually have video evidence that shows him running through the middle of campus and attempting to discard the firearm by throwing it on the roof of the school. It didn’t make it to the roof. It bounced off the gutter and landed near a planter on the concrete. It was quickly recovered by the police department," explained Seffens.

The gun was reported stolen from a different state.

Santa Rosa City Schools Public Information Officer James Hodgman says lockdowns happened immediately after being contacted by police.

“They notified our school sites, Comstock Middle School and James Monroe Elementary School, about the situation. And the staff at both of those locations implemented Secure the Campus procedures to ensure the safety of everybody at those sites," Hodgman said.

No students were injured.

Seffens says the response from the police and the schools was very quick.

“This entire incident from time of 911 call until the time that the second suspect was arrested was less than 10 minutes. So that should tell you how quickly the schools moved in order to get these two campuses locked down," Seffens said.

The 16-year-old victim was hospitalized and is in stable condition. Police believe the shooting stemmed from a suspected gang rivalry.

The investigation is ongoing.