2 arrested after teen attacked at Bay Area shopping center for refusing to give up shoes, police say

Two people have been arrested and a third is facing charges in connection with what Santa Rosa police called a gang-related assault that left an 18-year-old with serious facial injuries.

The arrests come amid growing concern among Santa Rosa residents about rising violence in the city. Police have responded to numerous domestic violence calls and 11 homicides so far this year — the most recent involving a well-known Bay Area nightclub manager found dead outside his home.

The attack happened around 11:30 a.m. Aug. 29 inside Santa Rosa Plaza. Police said the teenager was waiting in the mall’s food court when three people approached and demanded his expensive shoes. When he refused, one of them punched him in the face.

He ran and was chased but managed to reach mall security. He was taken by ambulance to hospital and treated for broken facial bones. The attackers ran off before officers arrived.

Police said they do not believe the victim knew the suspects or was involved with a gang, but said the suspects are likely members of a local street gang. They did not say what led them to that conclusion or what evidence supports it, and no motive has been specified.

After nearly a month of investigation, officers arrested Kolby Butler, 20, of Santa Rosa, on Sept. 22. He was booked into the Sonoma County jail on suspicion of assault causing great bodily injury, attempted robbery, gang participation and violating probation.

A week later, on Sept. 30, police arrested a 17-year-old boy on suspicion of the same charges — except for the probation violation — and took him to juvenile hall.

As of Wednesday, Butler was no longer in custody, according to jail records.

The third suspect, Matthew Rosser, 18, of Lake County, has not yet been arrested because he is undergoing unrelated medical treatment. Police said they have asked prosecutors to charge him with the same counts as the others.