Man stalked woman to Paso Robles before firing gun and hiding in SUV, police say
Editor’s note: This story contains stalking.
The man who was found hiding in the backseat of his SUV after shooting a gun in Paso Robles on Tuesday was accused of stalking a woman who fled to a short-term rental for safety.
Police said Wednesday that a female victim was fleeing from 41-year-old Napa resident Francisco Gutierrez De Alba and drove to Paso Robles to escape. He likely tracked the woman to a short-term rental in the 500 block of 5th Street, police said.
The woman fled again before Guterriez De Alba arrived in town, police said.
Around 8:30 a.m., a witness reported that a man — now identified as Gutierrez De Alba — was yelling in the 500 block of 5th Street, the Paso Robles Police Department said in a news release Tuesday.
That was when Gutierrez De Alba allegedly arrived at the short-term rental beating on the door and demanding entry, police said Wednesday.
“Angry, drunk and high, Gutierrez De Alba then fired at least six rounds from a pistol while outside the home,” police said Wednesday.
The witness reported hearing gunfire as officers responded, and officers also heard gunfire as they arrived at the scene, police said Tuesday.
No one was hit by the bullets, police said, and Gutierrez De Alba drove off.
The witness told officers they saw Gutierrez De Alba leaving the area in a black SUV prior to the officers’ arrival. Officers then located Gutierrez as he entered the black SUV one block north.
Officers found Gutierrez De Alba hiding in the backseat and found a loaded firearm and spent shell casings inside the vehicle, police said. He was then detained.
Police said in a Wednesday news release that the weapon was an unserialized “ghost” gun. Gutierrez De Alba was also “under the influence of a controlled substance and very drunk.”
Gutierrez De Alba was initially arrested on suspicion of negligent discharge of a firearm, but police have since added charges of suspected stalking, DUI and possession of a firearm while under the influence of a controlled substance.
He was in custody at the San Luis Obispo County Jail with a $1 million bail Wednesday morning, according to the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office inmate database.
The San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office had not yet filed charges as of Wednesday morning.
If you or someone you know are a survivor of domestic violence, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233. The hotline offers a range of free services including confidential support from a trained staff member, help finding a local health facility, legal and medical advice and referrals for long-term support.
Survivor support and resources are also available through Lumina Alliance at luminaalliance.org or their Crisis and Information Line at 805-545-8888.
