Arrested last month after downtown shooting, Redding man arrested again on similar charges

November 14, 2021 Trevor Montgomery

REDDING, Calif., — Authorities say a family argument that led to an indiscriminate shooting at an apartment complex in a densely populated Redding neighborhood caused a large, multi-agency police response that ended with the arrest of a local man early Saturday morning, Nov. 13.

As reported by SCNS at the time, the alleged gunman, 22-year-old Solomon Lewis, was arrested just last month on similar charges of indiscriminately firing a handgun into the air during a fight at Foundry Square in downtown Redding. At the time of yesterday’s arrest, he was out of jail on bond related to that early morning shooting, which sent citizens scrambling for safety before officers identified and apprehended him.

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City of Redding police officers were dispatched to the Shadowwood Apartments in the 3600 block of Churn Creek Road around 12:32 a.m. after several citizens called 911 to report a loud disturbance occurring in the area, Redding Police Corporal R. Ortega reported this morning.

While SHASCOM was receiving these reports, the emergency dispatcher could hear shots being fired in the background, and callers reported seeing at least one vehicle fleeing the area.

Solomon Lewis, 22, of Redding, was arrested early Saturday morning after he fired multiple shotgun blasts into the air during a family argument at Shadowwood Apartments. Redding PD photo

Due to the active gunfire and immediate threat to area residents, officers deployed a tactical armored rescue vehicle to the area and requested assistance from Shasta County sheriff’s deputies as well as California Highway Patrol – Northern Division Air Operations.

With a CHP helicopter providing aerial surveillance while circling overhead, officers and deputies converged on the apartment complex and quickly located the alleged gunman standing on the front porch of his residence.

Officers detained the suspect, since identified as Lewis, without incident and began investigating what led to the shooting.

Their investigation revealed Lewis and several of his family members – including seven children – were at his residence when an argument ensued, Ortega explained.

As the argument escalated, Lewis armed himself with a shotgun and exited the front door of his residence, Ortega continued; saying he then fired multiple rounds into the air “in a grossly negligent manner, without due regard for human life.”

Just 34 days before Saturday morning’s shooting and arrest, Lewis was arrested on Oct. 9 for another indiscriminate shooting that sent citizens scrambling for safety at Foundry Square in downtown Redding. An image captured by a nearby surveillance camera showed the exact moment Lewis (L-No Shirt) fired a handgun into the air. Redding PD photo

Officers located evidence of the shooting near the front porch of his apartment, which they say is located within a heavily populated area consisting of multiple residences and apartment complexes.

There were no reported injuries or casualties as a result of the gunfire.

SEE RELATED: Drunken downtown Redding disturbance ends with gunfire, suspect’s arrest

Based on their investigation, officers arrested Lewis and he was later booked into the Shasta County Jail in Redding on suspicion of discharging a firearm in a grossly negligent manner.

Online jail records indicate he has since been released and is no longer in custody.

Anyone with additional information regarding today’s incident is encouraged to contact the Redding Police Department at (530) 225-4200. Callers can refer to incident file number 21R074281 and can remain anonymous.

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 50, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source (RCNS) and Shasta County News Source (SCNS).

Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; the Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County; and Mountain Echo in Shasta County. He is also a regular contributor to Thin Blue Line TV and Law Enforcement News Network and has had his stories featured on news stations throughout the Southern California and North State regions.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 30 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 18 grandchildren.