A suspect has been arrested after police said he shot two people Monday afternoon in two separate incidents in East Palo Alto.
Police identified the suspect as 30-year-old East Palo Alto resident, Oscar Alfredo Tapia.
The suspect shot at a 35-year-old man, who escaped uninjured, and a 65-year-old woman, who suffered a gunshot wound to her arm, in the area of Newell Road and Woodland Avenue around 5:55 p.m., police said.
The first victim was sitting in traffic on his way to his second job when Tapia drove up in a silver sports utility vehicle and shot at him, according to Commander Jeff Liu of East Palo Alto Police Department.
The male victim started chasing Tapia in his vehicle when the suspect drove down Newell Road and fired his gun at the second victim twice, knocking her into the bushes, police said. Tapia continued fleeing while the first victim stopped to help the second victim.
"She got out and heard someone say, 'Help me! I have been shot.' And when she went over it was my aunt," said Angela Hall. She said her aunt, Margaret Baldwin, is recovering from surgery.
"Of course (she is) in pain, but more confused about 'why?' And 'why her?' Was one of her questions," said Hall.
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Tapia was later arrested in Palo Alton on the 400 block of Emerson Street, police said.
"We were getting a lot of calls about this incident, the gun fire, the vehicles chasing each other and then more gun fire," said Sargent David Carson from the Palo Alto Police Department.
Police asked anyone who may have witnessed or has any knowledge of this incident is urged to contact the East Palo Alto Police Department via email epa@tipnow.org, text 650-409-6792 or voice mail by calling 650-409-6792.
