A late-night shooting at a campsite on the San Lorenzo Riverbed ended with one man in the hospital and another in handcuffs, after Santa Cruz police tracked a suspect tied to the scene and booked him into county jail.
Officers have identified the suspect as 45-year-old Cory Murphy. According to CBS Bay Area, the violence broke out last Tuesday at about 9:20 p.m., when a man at the campsite was shot three times. Despite his injuries, the victim managed to walk to the McDonald's on Ocean Street to get help. A bystander called 911 and first responders rushed him to the hospital, where police say he is expected to survive. Investigators later identified Murphy as the suspect and arrested him the next day, Feb. 11, around 6:30 p.m. near Fern and Limekiln streets. He was booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail.
Riverbed Camps And Safety Concerns
The shooting unfolded in an area that has long been at the center of local battles over riverbed encampments and public safety. Riverbeds and creeks along the Central Coast, including stretches of the San Lorenzo, regularly draw concern from city and county officials, who point to fire danger, sanitation problems and flood risks when debating how to manage large unhoused camps in these corridors. KSBW has reported on recent regional efforts aimed at addressing those risks.
Investigation Status
Police have not released a motive or detailed charging information as the case moves forward, and the investigation remains active. Officers did not immediately provide additional information to reporters, according to CBS Bay Area.
