TO: Campus Community
FR: Nader Oweis, Chief of Police
This Timely Warning Bulletin is being issued in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Act and the purpose is to provide preventative information to the campus community to aid members from becoming the victim of a similar crime.
REPORTED CRIME: On Saturday. September 3, 2022, at approximately 11:50 p.m., Officers from the Sonoma State University Police Department and City of Cotati Police Department responded to a 911 report of a stabbing in the R12 parking lot near Tuscany Village. Upon arrival, Officers located a juvenile victim with a non-life threatening laceration to the arm. The victim was transported to a local hospital by ambulance and was later released.
This is an ongoing investigation, but it appears that this incident stemmed from a possible case of road rage that occurred on Old Adobe Road. The suspect followed the victim’s vehicle, which came onto campus from E. Cotati Avenue at Cypress Way, where they drove into the R12 parking lot. The suspect exited his vehicle, approached the victim, challenged the victim to fight, and subsequently stabbed at the victim with a knife.
Witnesses described the suspect as a Hispanic male adult, in his late 20s to early 30s, 5’6” to 5’7” tall, with a “buzzed cut” or bald hair, a thin mustache, and tattoos on his arm. The suspect may have been wearing a white T-shirt and jeans. The suspect fled the area in an older model dark gray Toyota Camry heading west on E. Cotati Avenue.
At this time, the suspect has not been identified or apprehended and is not believed to be on campus.
A SSUAlert was sent to the campus community via text message, email, and voice recording to warn the community, shortly after the incident was confirmed.
If you know something: Anyone with information that might assist with the investigation is urged to call the Sonoma State University Police Department at (707) 664-4444.
- The Sonoma State University Police Department would like to remind the campus community to:
- Immediately and promptly report any suspected crime, suspicious persons, or activities by calling 911 or the non-emergency line at 707-664-4444 or by utilizing one of the many Blue Light Phones on campus.
- If you believe that you or someone else is in an unsafe situation, please do not delay calling 911 or seeking assistance from others.
- Be alert to your surroundings. Your actions as an active bystander can help prevent crimes from occurring within our campus community.
- Call the Sonoma State University Police Department for an on-campus safety escort or walk with another person or group of people.
Support Resources: We understand that individuals may find this message upsetting, and encourage those impacted by this incident to utilize campus support resources:
- The campus Confidential Victim Advocate at (707) 664-2698.
- Counseling and Psychological Services are available for any student seeking support at (707) 664-2153.
- Our Employee Assistance Program, LifeMatters by Empathia, is available as a support resource for staff and faculty at (800) 367-7474.
Crimes reportable under the Clery Act are defined on the Clery Compliance website.