Reward offered for clues in spate of Valley Springs-area drive-bys

A $5,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the recent series of drive-by shootings in the greater Valley Springs area.

The reward is being offered by the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Department in conjunction with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
 

“The shootings are crimes of violence that will not be tolerated,” said Stephen Herkins, the ATF special agent in charge of the case.

According to a Sheriff’s Department  statement, 10 vehicles or homes have been shot at during the spree, which has left bullet-scarred walls and shattered windows but no injuries.

No arrests have been made in the case.

The latest reported shooting came at just after 6 a.m. Wednesday.

A shot was fired into the wall near the front door of a home off Highway 26, southwest of the La Contenta Golf Club. The homeowner was at home at the time, but was not injured.

“It may not have occurred this morning, just was discovered this morning,” said Sheriff’s Capt. Jim Macedo. “We’re not sure.”

While the majority of the recent attacks have come against vehicles, it is at least the second shooting at a house in the Valley Springs area this month.

On or about Dec. 17, a drive-by shooting occurred at a home on Highway 26 near Vista Del Lago Drive. Like the previous incident, investigators are unsure whether it is related to the other shootings.

Nerves in the community are still on edge.

Nine callers from the Valley Springs or Jenny Lind area dialed 911 to report hearing shots fired between 10:10 p.m. Tuesday and 1:26 a.m. Wednesday.

Four vehicles were stopped by deputies during that period, leading to one arrest on an unrelated warrant.