South Lake Tahoe, CA…On 12/30/16 Kevin Gonzales, an 18 year old South Lake Tahoe resident, was arrested in connection with this drive-by shooting. Gonzalez was booked into the El Dorado County Jail in South Lake Tahoe for one felony charge of assault with a deadly weapon and one misdemeanor charge of destruction of evidence. Because the case is still being investigated, and we anticipate questioning additional suspects in this matter, the actions of Gonzalez specific to the shooting are not being revealed in this news release.

The charge of destruction of evidence is based upon detectives’ observations of Gonzalez. Prior to his arrest, while detectives were surveilling the vehicle involved in the drive by shooting, detectives watched Gonzalez retrieve and attempt to destroy evidence from the vehicle. The specific nature of this evidence is being intentionally withheld at this time based on investigative necessity. Detectives recovered the undamaged evidence in question at the time they arrested Gonzalez. No firearms have yet been recovered in this case. We have no information at this time which ties this crime to gang activity. Gonzalez’ bail is set at 75,000 dollars. More suspects are being sought in this investigation and we anticipate more arrests will be made in this case.

Just prior to 10:00pm on December 29th 2016, SLTPD received a report of a drive by shooting at the Pioneer Inn Motel, located at 3863 Pioneer Trail in South Lake Tahoe. Officers responded and looked for a suspect vehicle described as a dark pick-up truck. Officers did not immediately locate the vehicle or any involved suspect(s). Detectives responded to the crime scene, collected evidence and interviewed witnesses.

Witnesses described that several young Hispanic males occupied the truck, which had driven westbound on Pioneer Trail and stopped in front of the Pioneer Inn parking lot. One or more of the vehicle occupants began shooting into the parking lot area of the motel. The truck then left westbound on Pioneer Trail. Witnesses all described that several rounds were discharged from the suspect vehicle, but a specific number has not yet been fully determined. No one was injured. Investigation is in progress in an effort to identify suspect(s) and/or motives for this crime. Witnesses have told police they suspect the crime may be related to gang activity, but this has yet to be confirmed by investigators.

Throughout a very busy night, SLTPD patrol officers continued to search the area. Before sunrise this morning they located a vehicle parked in the 3600 block of Pioneer Trail which generally matched the suspect vehicle description, and may have been involved in this event. Investigation throughout the night and early morning confirmed this was in fact the vehicle involved in the shooting as described by witnesses. After sunrise this morning, with assistance from the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office, several SLTPD Officers and Detectives contacted the owner of this vehicle and several other occupants of the vehicle owner’s residence on Pioneer Trail in South Lake Tahoe.

Detectives have seized this vehicle pending a search warrant. They are currently questioning the people contacted this morning to identify any specific suspect(s) related to the drive by shooting at the Pioneer Inn Motel last night, to determine a possible motive and whether or not this crime may be gang related.

If anyone witnessed this crime, or has information relative to this case, please call the South Lake Tahoe Police Department at 530-542-6100, or Lake Tahoe Secret Witness at 530-541-6800.