Cloverdale and Healdsburg were on edge Saturday evening following the 4:47pm shooting in the 300 block of Cloverdale Heights Way, on a semi-private road northwest of the city. When Sonoma County Sheriff’s deputies and Cloverdale Police responded, they found “one victim was located at the scene suffering from a gunshot wound. Despite life-saving efforts, including CPR, the victim was pronounced deceased at the scene,” said the Sheriff’s Office in a social media post.
Through witness statements, detectives identified the suspect as 56-year-old Lawrence Cassidy, of Cloverdale. Cassidy had fled the area in a white Ford SUV, but deputies and detectives later located the vehicle in Healdsburg. Additional investigation found that Cassidy had been driven from Healdsburg to a residence in the 1500 block of Brush Creek Road in Santa Rosa.
The following morning, Sunday Nov. 23, the Sheriff’s office deployed a team to the Bush Street Road location, consisting of the SWAT Team, the Hostage Negotiations Team, and Explosives Ordinance Disposal (bomb) unit. Two occupants were safely removed from the residence by SWAT personnel, but there followed a three-hour standoff, during which multiple rounds were fired from within the residence.
During the incident, the Santa Rosa Police Department issued a shelter-in-place order for the surrounding neighborhood due to police activity within city limits.
“While the suspect was firing, SWAT operators deployed chemical agents in an effort for a peaceful surrender,” stated the Sheriff’s Office. “The Hostage Negotiations Team made repeated attempts to contact Cassidy by telephone and loudspeaker, but he refused to communicate and did not exit the residence.”
Following the standoff, at about 4:30am, law enforcement entered the residence and located a deceased male inside, who is presumed to be the suspect, Lawrence Cassidy. A positive identification is forthcoming.
While the search for the suspect was underway, Healdsburg residents wondered why the had not received any NIXLE alerts about the presence of a murder suspect in town. When the question was posed on Facebook, the Sheriff’s Office responded, “We would not use Nixle to notify a murder suspect that we located his vehicle. Additionally, detectives and deputies were already in the area conducting surveillance.”
The investigation is ongoing and is being actively conducted by the Petaluma Police Department. The Petaluma Police Department will release additional information regarding the investigation as it becomes available.
Why aren’t we worried about the person who was shot in the head and died? Not a single mention. Healdsburg quit your whining. You are exposing your selfish white underbelly,
Since when does the swat team release a blow by blow account of how they are keeping us safe. Get off of your hi horse.
Let’s turn to compassion towards the innocent person and family. Grow up!