Elk Grove Party Ends in Shooting,One Goes To Hospital and Two Go to Jail

On Friday, December 18, 2009 at approximately 11:00 p.m., Elk Grove Police Officers responded to the 8300 block of Caldicot Drive on the report of a man who had just been shot. Officers responded to find, Andrew Tapalla of Sacramento, suffering from a single gun-shot wound to the buttock. Tapalla was treated by CSD Paramedics and transported by ambulance to Methodist Hospital where he underwent surgery.

Investigation revealed that two subjects attempted to “crash the party” on Caldicot Drive and were denied entry. This reportedly upset the “party crashers” and they left. Within minutes of driving away, the subjects returned and as they drove by fired shots into a group of people standing to the front of the residence; it was then that Andrew Tapalla was struck.

Officers swarmed the area and located a possible suspect vehicle speeding away from the vicinity. A high-risk traffic stop was conducted and two subjects were detained; Steven Brown from Elk Grove and a 17-year-old juvenile out of Sacramento.

Officers discover gun on suspect

During the detention and pat-down search of Mr. Brown, a small caliber handgun fell to the ground from inside his pant leg. Mr. Brown was dumbfounded to provide a reasonable explanation as to why he was carrying a loaded firearm.

Additional evidence was found inside the vehicle linking the suspects to the shooting. The detainees were subsequently positively identified by witnesses attending the party.

Both Brown and the juvenile were arrested and booked on a multiple charges including carrying a loaded firearm, discharging a firearm from a vehicle, conspiracy and attempted murder. Mr. Brown was booked into Sacramento County Jail while the 17-year-old was booked into juvenile hall.

Anyone with additional information regarding the shooting is encouraged to call the Elk Grove Police Department Detective Bureau at (916) 478- 8060