Two San Jose men arrested, Cowell’s Beach evacuated following firearm discharge

Two South Bay men were arrested following a firearm discharge that resulted in the evacuation of Cowell Beach the evening of Memorial Day.

SANTA CRUZ — Two San Jose men were arrested following a firearm discharge that resulted in the evacuation of Cowell Beach the evening of Memorial Day.

No beachgoers were injured during the discharge, Santa Cruz police wrote in a news release.

At 6:10 p.m. Monday, the Police Department received reports of two suspects in dark clothing firing a handgun near the rocks at the west end of the beach, per the release. A further investigation found that they were shooting at an empty wine bottle they consumed earlier.

Upon arrival, officers began evacuating the beach. They found the two suspects, who had previously hidden behind the rocks, at the end of the beach. The suspects were identified as Roy Miller, 43, and Kiiren Pumphery Jenkins, 31, both of San Jose. The two were detained without further incident.

Officers found a 9 mm handgun on Miller as well as bullet casings and a broken wine bottle in the vicinity.

Miller was booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail on charges of being a felon in possession of a handgun and ammunition, possession of a concealed loaded firearm, negligent discharge of a firearm and public intoxication. Jenkins was booked on charges of public intoxication and negligent discharge of a firearm.

Lt. Wes Morey said the evacuation was lifted at 6:38 p.m.