Suspect in Santa Rosa nightclub shooting arrested in Sacramento

Detectives searching for a man who shot a downtown Santa Rosa nightclub employee found him hiding in a Sacramento home and have arrested the Santa Rosa resident, police said.

David Angelo Montano, 25, on Sunday remained in a Sacramento jail. He was expected to be transferred to the Sonoma County Jail this week and charged with attempted murder, Santa Rosa Sgt. Dave Linscomb said.

Detectives suspect Montano was the unruly patron at Epic Social Lounge who early Wednesday pulled out a handgun and shot the employee at close range.

The man was being tossed out for making derogatory comments to people in the bar. Epic employees were hosting a gay pride event, and the man's comments were aimed at gay and lesbian bar patrons, police said.

A Facebook posting on the Epic page denounced the shooting, calling it a hate crime.

The 23-year-old victim, who wasn't identified, underwent surgery for a gunshot to his stomach.

The shooting occurred at about 1:15 a.m., on the sidewalk just outside the front door.

The shooter then ran across Mendocino Avenue heading west.

Detectives initially said they only had a vague description of a young Hispanic man with long hair. But further information regarding his features helped a Santa Rosa police dispatcher find Montano's name by comparing the description to other people who had crossed paths with officers, Linscomb said.

On Friday detectives learned Montano could be at an apartment on San Juan Road in Sacramento and worked with police there to find him.

Montano initially refused to come out of the apartment but eventually gave up, and Sacramento officers arrested him.

Montano also is in violation of his parole from a prior felony conviction, Linscomb said.