Petaluma man charged with attempted murder after shooting

A Petaluma man has been charged with attempted murder in connection with a shooting last week west of Cotati.

James Askew, 53, was arrested Thursday after an hours-long standoff with police. The following day, he was charged with five felonies, including assault with a semi-automatic weapon, possession of a firearm after a felony conviction and possession of a zip gun, a homemade firearm, court records show.

Askew is scheduled to appear in Sonoma County Superior Court in Santa Rosa at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday to enter a plea.

Sonoma County Sheriff's officials responded to a shooting reported early Thursday at a property in the 2700 block of Stony Point Road, agency spokesman Deputy Rob Dillion said in a news release.

Shortly after 1:05 a.m., officers found an injured man in the driveway of the property who told investigators he had been shot during an argument with another man.

He was taken to a hospital where his condition remained stable Friday, Dillion said.

Officers found the other man while the sheriff's Henry 1 helicopter, the California Highway Patrol's H-30 helicopter and a Santa Rosa Police Department canine unit secured the area. Dillion was unable to determine the man's whereabouts.

The sheriff's office SWAT team and hostage negotiation team responded, made contact with Askew and convinced him to come out after a few hours, Dillion said.

He was arrested and booked into the Sonoma County Jail in Santa Rosa and is being held on $1,000,000 bail.

This story is developing. Check back later for updates.

Reach staff writer Madison Smalstig at [email protected]. On X (Twitter) @madi.smals.