Two suspects have been arrested in connection with a violent gang-related assault and attempted robbery that occurred at Santa Rosa Plaza late last month. The altercation, which took place on August 29 around 11:30 AM, left an 18-year-old male resident of Santa Rosa suffering from significant facial injuries after several individuals accosted him while in the mall’s food court area, the Santa Rosa Police Department reported.
This episode reportedly began when one of the assailants demanded the victim's expensive shoes, and upon his refusal to surrender them, the teenager was punched in the face. The suspects fled the scene before law enforcement arrived, and the victim, who escaped after being chased and is not believed to be affiliated with any gangs himself, required hospitalization for facial fractures sustained during the assault.
Conducting the investigation, the SRPD's Gang Crimes Team (GCT) utilized surveillance footage to identify several suspects believed to be associated with a local criminal street gang. The GCT revealed the arrests of 20-year-old Kolby Butler and a 17-year-old male, whose identity remains protected due to his juvenile status. They face multiple charges, including assault with great bodily injury and attempted robbery, with additional charges tied to their alleged gang participation.
A third suspect, 18-year-old Matthew Rosser of Lake County, was also implicated in the crime, but due to an unspecified medical condition requiring treatment, was not immediately booked. Waiting for the healing process to complete, detectives have instead submitted a request to the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office for Rosser to face similar charges. Each of the suspects is accused of endorsing and benefiting from functions related to criminal street gang activities.
