Inset: A California woman walking her dogs in San Leandro with her boyfriend and her dogs moments before she was allegedly gunned down by 21-year-old Rohith Sunil (San Leandro Police/KGO). Background: The shooting scene at East 14th and Williams Streets in San Leandro where a woman was shot and killed while walking her dogs (KGO/YouTube).
A California woman on a late-night stroll with her dogs and boyfriend was gunned down last week, with cops saying a 21-year-old man pulled up in a vehicle and “accosted the couple” before allegedly opening fire and speeding away in his car.
“After a brief interaction, the suspect drew a firearm and shot the victim once in the torso,” the San Leandro Police Department said in a statement sent to Law&Crime about the Thursday night shooting in Alameda County. “The victim”s boyfriend and the 2 dogs were physically unharmed,” the department said.
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.”
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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.
