Advertisement AR-15 style rifle, ammo found in search for armed men in Roseville Police: Gunshots heard behind Fountains shopping center Share Shares Copy Link Copy

After several hours of searching an area of Roseville where gunshots were heard and two armed men were seen Wednesday morning, officers found an AR-15-style rifle, police said.Police also found empty shell casings and a gun flash suppressor, the Roseville Police Department said."In the state of California, it's very difficult to own one, I know law enforcement agencies can possess them and certain individuals can possess silencers or suppressors but outside of California, it's a little easier," Roseville police officer Jerry Wernli said.Several articles of clothing were also discovered with the rifle, was was equipped with a silencer, according to Roseville police. However, there is still no sign of the two men officers have been searching for.The area where the gun was found is near an archery range called MAYA Archers, Inc., which is between North Harding Boulevard and Berry Street.Investigators will be checking to find out who owns the gun and will continue to search the area Wednesday afternoon.The incident began about 3 a.m. when residents living behind the Fountains shopping center at Galleria Boulevard and East Roseville Parkway reported hearing loud bangs that sounded like gunshots, police said."... And I had friends who I guess live nearby and heard the shooting all night thinking it was firecrackers and we're surprised to hear it was guns," Roseville resident Katie Clouth said.When officers arrived, they saw flashes and heard more loud gunshot-like bangs. A California Highway Patrol officer saw two men carrying long rifles in the area, police said.Police said they called in additional help because even after several announcements the men did not surrender.One man was wearing a turquoise shirt and the other was wearing a white shirt, police said. Both were believed to be in their 20s.Several shell casings were also found near where the gunshots were heard.A perimeter was set up along the greenbelt area near Interstate 80, which is where KCRA's Brian Hickey watched as officers, with guns drawn, searched the area across I-80, adjacent to Golfland Sunsplash."There is evidence that there are people running around with guns, and we have to take it super serious," Wernli said.Several homeless people who were escorted out of the area by officers told investigators they did see the men, but no law enforcement officers spotted them.A SWAT vehicle was also seen patrolling the bike trail area, as a law enforcement helicopter watched from above.All lanes of westbound Interstate 80 and southbound Highway 65 were shut down for several hours, but were completely reopened by about 8:15 a.m.Police are not ruling out the possibility the men were using the area for target practice with the archery range nearby."The problem with shooting into those areas is the backdrop is usually bales of hay, and that's not going to stop a bullet," Wernli said.Discharging a firearm outside of a gun range and hunting are illegal in Roseville.No victims or damage have been reported.No additional details have been released.Anyone who sees suspicious activity is asked to call the Roseville Police Department at 916-774-5000.