In a tragic turn of events in Napa, California, a man and woman were fatally shot outside an apartment complex on Lincoln Avenue near Soscol. The Napa Police Department quickly responded to the incident, which was reported at approximately 9:45 AM yesterday. Upon arrival, officers discovered the victims with gunshot wounds and commenced life-saving efforts, though both individuals were ultimately pronounced dead at the scene.
Hours after the shooting, suspect Baltazar Rangel Juarez, a 28-year-old Napa resident, was seen driving a vehicle by Napa PD and, following a chase that ensued after he ignored their emergency lights and sirens, was cornered at Kennedy Park. According to the City of Napa, the pursuit led to the suspect's vehicle becoming disabled within the park. The confrontation turned into a standoff after Juarez armed himself with a firearm and refused to surrender to law enforcement officials.
The standoff came to a close when Juarez, refusing to heed multiple commands to disarm and exit his vehicle, inflicted a self-inflicted gunshot wound upon himself. He was provided medical assistance at the scene before being transported to the hospital for treatment, as corroborated by an X post by Henry K. Lee. Juarez has been charged with two counts of 187(a) PC – Murder and was taken into custody following the incident.
Man & woman shot and killed outside apartment near Lincoln & Soscol in Napa. Hours later, suspect Baltazar Rangel Juarez, 28, spotted driving & chased to Kennedy Park, where @NapaPD rams his Chrysler, leading to standoff that ends w/him shooting himself. Suspect at hospital pic.twitter.com/BemDwRHsSp
— Henry K. Lee (@henrykleeKTVU) September 27, 2024
With the suspect in custody, the Napa Major Crimes Task Force is conducting an ongoing homicide investigation. Currently, the names of the victims have not been released pending confirmation of their identities by the Napa Sheriff’s Office Coroner.
Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to contact the Napa Police Department. Detective Dodd can be reached at (707) 257-9568 or via email at [email protected].
