The fatal weekend shooting of a 19-year-old Santa Rosa man, Andrew Saludes-Smith, occurred outside near a residential intersection in southwest Santa Rosa and is believed to be gang-related, police said Tuesday.
After being shot in the chest, Saludes-Smith was driven to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital by a group of people, but he died in the emergency room shortly after 3 a.m. Saturday, according to police.
No one had been arrested in the shooting as of Tuesday, but police said their investigation had narrowed the crime scene to at or near the intersection of Citrine and Soprano ways, in a new subdivision.
"We're working leads," Santa Rosa Police Lt. Tom Swearingen said, declining to elaborate on why investigators had linked the shooting to gang activity. "We're moving forward."
The victim's family said Saludes-Smith, who attended Maria Carrillo and Piner high schools, consistently denied being in a gang.
"My understanding is that he was shot out in the street . . . I don't know at what time," said Bony Saludes of Santa Rosa, the victim's grandfather. "Nobody knows really what happened."
Saludes, a retired Press Democrat reporter, said his grandson hoped to obtain an apprentice position in sheetmetal work and planned to attend Santa Rosa Junior College next spring.
Known by friends as "Buddy," Saludes-Smith had obtained his high school diploma in June. He was active as a rap music singer and Pomo ceremonial dancer.
His interest in his Native American ancestry led him from a young age to join his father, Malvin Smith, and uncle David Smith in Pomo dance performances, Saludes said.
"He had a lot of friends, real close friends," Saludes said Tuesday night.
Saludes-Smith was born in Santa Rosa on Nov. 20, 1987, and had most recently lived with his father in northwest Santa Rosa, Saludes said.
Survivors include his mother, Andrea Saludes, also of Santa Rosa.
The family plans a 1 p.m. funeral Monday at Daniels Chapel of the Roses in Santa Rosa. Other arrangements are pending.
RIP homie......damn
After being shot in the chest, Saludes-Smith was driven to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital by a group of people, but he died in the emergency room shortly after 3 a.m. Saturday, according to police.
No one had been arrested in the shooting as of Tuesday, but police said their investigation had narrowed the crime scene to at or near the intersection of Citrine and Soprano ways, in a new subdivision.
"We're working leads," Santa Rosa Police Lt. Tom Swearingen said, declining to elaborate on why investigators had linked the shooting to gang activity. "We're moving forward."
The victim's family said Saludes-Smith, who attended Maria Carrillo and Piner high schools, consistently denied being in a gang.
"My understanding is that he was shot out in the street . . . I don't know at what time," said Bony Saludes of Santa Rosa, the victim's grandfather. "Nobody knows really what happened."
Saludes, a retired Press Democrat reporter, said his grandson hoped to obtain an apprentice position in sheetmetal work and planned to attend Santa Rosa Junior College next spring.
Known by friends as "Buddy," Saludes-Smith had obtained his high school diploma in June. He was active as a rap music singer and Pomo ceremonial dancer.
His interest in his Native American ancestry led him from a young age to join his father, Malvin Smith, and uncle David Smith in Pomo dance performances, Saludes said.
"He had a lot of friends, real close friends," Saludes said Tuesday night.
Saludes-Smith was born in Santa Rosa on Nov. 20, 1987, and had most recently lived with his father in northwest Santa Rosa, Saludes said.
Survivors include his mother, Andrea Saludes, also of Santa Rosa.
The family plans a 1 p.m. funeral Monday at Daniels Chapel of the Roses in Santa Rosa. Other arrangements are pending.
RIP homie......damn
