4th shooting in Yuba City worries residents

Anxiety is mounting for some residents in southwest Yuba City following the Sunday night shooting of a local man on Franklin Avenue, marking the fourth episode of gun violence in the city in as many weeks.

An unidentified man was shot in the ankle Sunday night near the Bill's Market and Deli gas station owned by Azim Bath's family.

"It's not normally like this, but it's getting pretty crazy now," said Bath, a Yuba City native.

Police have been unable to confirm possible connections between the various incidents, and a lack of witness cooperation has plagued the Police Department throughout the month.

Yuba City police Sgt. Kim Slade said officers responded to the 1400 block of Franklin Avenue around 9:20 p.m.

Police declined to release the name of the victim, saying they needed more time to interview the 22-year-old man.

Witnesses told police there were possibly two shooters, described as two men between the ages of 22 and 26 with medium builds.

One man is described as 5 feet 11 inches to 6 feet tall, police said, and the other is about 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 7 inches.

No arrests have been made nor have any weapons been recovered.

Slade said it was still too early to know if Sunday's attack was gang-related and the possibility had not been ruled out.

It has been a particularly violent time in Yuba City with a string of shootings beginning in late January when two men were shot outside a Bridge Street bar. Both victims refused to cooperate with police and no arrests have been made. Bath said he is troubled by the spike in violence.

"My whole family lives around here, so, yeah, it's a big concern," Bath said.

A Yuba City teenager was shot Feb. 12 on C Street in an incident with possible gang connections. Anthony Valentino Gonzales died the following night at Rideout Memorial Hospital. An unidentified minor was also shot in the buttocks during the same incident, but he has refused to cooperate with investigators.

Two days after the C Street shooting, two women were gunned down in their home by a man who was shot dead himself a short time later by a Yuba City police officer.

Police said Steven G. Williams shot and killed his sister-in-law, Janis Lyn Williams, and her friend Kimberly Ann Yancey. Police tracked Williams to Franklin Avenue where he was shot by an officer under circumstances that remain unclear.

"I hope they're able to get some of these guys," said Kareem Bath, who also works at his family's gas station. "It's too many people just taking life for granted."

Anyone with information regarding the recent attacks is asked to contact the Police Department at 822-4660 or 822-2026. Callers may remain anonymous.

CONTACT Rob Parsons at rparsons@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4785. Find him on Facebook at /ADcrimebeat or on Twitter at @ADcrimebeat.