Inset: A California woman, pictured in San Leandro, was enjoying a walk with her dogs and boyfriend just before she was reportedly shot by 21-year-old Rohith Sunil (San Leandro Police/KGO). Background: The crime scene at East 14th and Williams Streets, San Leandro, where the shooting incident occurred while a woman was out walking her dogs (KGO/YouTube).
Last week, a California woman taking a late-night walk with her dogs and her boyfriend was fatally shot, with authorities alleging that a 21-year-old man drove up to them, “confronted the couple,” and then opened fire before quickly fleeing the scene in his vehicle.
“Following a brief exchange, the suspect produced a gun and fired a single shot at the victim’s torso,” the San Leandro Police Department reported in a statement sent to Law&Crime regarding the Thursday night incident in Alameda County. “The victim’s boyfriend and the two dogs were not physically harmed,” the department added.
Jail records show that 21-year-old Rohith Sunil, of San Jose, was arrested by the Dublin Police Department just before midnight Thursday in its jurisdiction after opening fire on the female victim at East 14th and Williams streets at around 11:11 p.m. in San Leandro, according to the SLPD statement.
“The preliminary investigation revealed the victim, and her boyfriend, were walking their dogs in the 1800 block of East 14th Street when the suspect vehicle pulled over near them,” police said. “The suspect exited the vehicle and accosted the couple.”
After a brief altercation, Sunil allegedly opened fire on the pair before getting back into his car and fleeing the scene. Surveillance footage released by police shows the female victim and her boyfriend walking her dogs and holding hands moments before the fatal shooting. Cops tried rushing the woman to a local hospital “but she did not survive,” according to SLPD officials.
Sunhil was originally arrested for possession of a firearm by Dublin police. The circumstances leading up to that arrest and descriptions of his vehicle “closely matched those from the San Leandro homicide,” per the SLPD statement.
“Following up on this lead, SLPD detectives were able to develop more evidence and ultimately place 21-year-old Rohith Sunil of San Jose under arrest for murder,” the department said. “This case will be presented to the Alameda County District Attorney’s office for prosecution.”
The shooting comes just weeks after another person was gunned down in San Leandro while walking their dogs, leading residents to fear for their safety and cops to comment on whether the incidents are connected.
“We recognize the parallels between this case and last month’s murder of another victim walking his dog, and we acknowledge the public safety concerns this may raise within the community,” the department said. “Our investigation, thus far, has found no connection between the two homicides or between the suspects arrested in each case. We have also found no basis to believe they are part of a mounting pattern.”
Still, residents tell local media outlets they are questioning whether it’s safe to go places on foot anymore in the San Leandro area, at least at night. Police have not released a motive behind the latest shooting.
“I’m scared,” said Dulce Macias, a San Leandro resident who spoke to local ABC affiliate KGO. “You can’t even go for a walk now.”
While an arrest has been made, SLPD officials say they still “urge anyone with additional information” regarding the latest incident to contact the police department or anonymous tip line.
