Thumbnail photo: Russell Walters Jr. and Russell Walters Sr. were arrested on suspicion of attempted homicide in connection with a May 28 shooting near Safeway. | Photo courtesy of CCPD.
The 17-year-old suspect in last week’s shooting at Jedediah Smith Shopping Center, along with his father, are in custody in Citrus Heights, Crescent City Police Chief Richard Griffin told Redwood Voice Community News on Sunday.
Citrus Heights police arrested Russell Walters Jr. and Russell Walters Sr. after serving a search warrant at a home just before 5 p.m. Sunday, Griffin said. The two attempted to flee out a backdoor, but were taken into custody.
Officers also identified a female subject who drove them to the Sacramento area and will likely ask for accessory charges to be filed against her, Griffin said.
Russell Walters Jr. and Sr. are being lodged in the Sacramento County Jail, the Crescent City police chief said. He said he is working with the Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office and the Del Norte County Probation Department to bring them back to the area.
“We’re looking at attempted homicide [charges] for junior and then accessory for senior,” Griffin said. “Senior was also booked [on suspicion of] attempted homicide because he assisted with the commission of the crime.”
One victim was hospitalized with a gunshot wound to the abdomen and flown out of the area for care. According to Griffin, the victim is out of the hospital and back in the Crescent City area.
The father and son duo were most likely Door Dashing on May 28 when a juvenile saw them at McDonalds in Crescent City, which started an altercation, Griffin said.
A video shot by a bystander and posted on Facebook shortly after the incident showed an individual in a red long-sleeve shirt firing several shots at someone off camera before fleeing the area. Another video shows what appears to be the two suspects in a vehicle just before they left the shopping center.
According to Griffin, it’s believed that Russell Walters Sr. purchased the gun that was involved for his son, though his officers are still working to verify this. Russell Walters Sr. has a history of prior felonies, Griffin said, and though he’s not currently on parole, he shouldn’t have been able to purchase a gun.
Shortly after the incident, CCPD arrested 32-year-old Joshua Roberts who, they say, helped the two suspects leave the area. According to Griffin, Russell Walters Jr. and Russell Walters Sr. had allegedly fled the shopping center in a Chevrolet Traverse, arrived at their home and then left the Crescent City area in another vehicle.
Roberts, a parolee, faces aiding and abetting charges as well as unlawful possession of a firearm. Officers allegedly found an AR-15 and a semiautomatic handgun with ammunition at his home, Griffin said.
The case is still under investigation, Griffin said. Officers are continuing to determine whether anyone else helped the suspects elude police, he said.
Griffin also thanked the public and various agencies involved for helping them respond to the incident.
“The sheriff’s office was a huge help that night, and the CHP and everybody working together like we normally do in Del Norte County,” he said.
