Two juveniles who fired a handgun at a passing vehicle on Irwin Street were in custody within minutes on Tuesday, July 28, tracked by San Rafael police's overhead drone as they fled on foot.

The shooting happened at 7:49 p.m. in the 500 block of Irwin Street, according to an SRPD press release from Sergeant Justin Graham. The victim was driving by the two suspects when they suddenly opened fire. The victim was not injured.

Dispatchers received descriptions of both suspects and deployed the department's Drone as First Responder. The drone arrived on scene within minutes and spotted the pair running from Duffy Place, behind a building, and onto Andersen Drive. A drone operator then guided patrol officers to the suspects' location, and both were taken into custody without incident.

Officers identified the suspects as juveniles during the arrest. Their names have not been released. Police also recovered the handgun used in the shooting.

Both were booked into Marin Juvenile Hall on felony charges related to the discharge and possession of a firearm.

Investigators said it remains unclear why the suspects began shooting at the victim. The case is still under investigation.

Drone program's growing role

The arrest marks another deployment for SRPD's Drone as First Responder program, which has been operational since October 2025. The department said the program has assisted in numerous emergency calls by reducing response times, providing real-time aerial views for officers, and helping locate dangerous suspects.

The program also played a role during a multi-county vehicle pursuit on Feb. 3, when the drone maintained situational awareness as officers chased a suspect from San Rafael into Corte Madera. SRPD operates the drone system alongside its Real Time Information Center.

The department's 2025 annual report highlighted the DFR program as a key initiative.

Anyone with information about the Irwin Street shooting can call San Rafael Police at (415) 485-3000 or submit tips online at www.srpd.org/tips.