Google Searcher Finds He's 'Most Wanted,' Turns Self In

Christopher Viatafa fired a gun at a senior center party, police say.

ByABC News
March 16, 2014, 8:19 PM
Christopher Viatafa was wanted by the San Leandro Police Department for discharging a firearm toward an inhabited dwelling.
Christopher Viatafa was wanted by the San Leandro Police Department for discharging a firearm toward an inhabited dwelling.
San Leandro Police Department

Mar. 16, 2014— -- A California man exercised "good judgment" by turning himself in after Googling his name and finding himself on a "most wanted" website, according to authorities.

A bout of curiosity, followed by guilt, landed Christopher Viatafa in jail last week for a gun-related incident allegedly committed more than seven months ago, police said.

Viatafa was wanted by police in connection with an August 2013 incident involving shooting into an inhabited dwelling, but the 27-year-old had no idea his mugshot was featured on Northern California's Most Wanted website until he looked himself up on the Internet. When he found out, he was alarmed enough to turn himself in to authorities, according to police.

"Although it wasn't good judgment that landed him on the website, he did used good judgment to turn himself in after seeing his photo," San Leandro, Calif., Police said in a statement.

Police said Viatafa was at a private party at the San Leandro Senior Center last August when he got into an argument with some other partygoers.

Viatafa "pulled out a semi-automatic handgun and fired a few rounds into the ground near the people," according to the police statement.

After being thrown out of the party, he shot several more rounds, police said.

A police statement was not clear on whether or not the shots caused injuries. Police did not immediately respond to requests for comment beyond initial statements made Friday.

Viatafa has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon, police said.

He is now listed as a "captured fugitive" on the website, which features more than 25 of the Bay Area's most wanted criminals.

"The website played an important part in his apprehension," said police. "[It] has been a valuable tool for both law enforcement and the public in finding criminals."

ABC News' calls to numbers listed for Viatafa's family went unanswered.

Contact the San Leandro Police Department's Criminal Investigations Division with any information regarding this case at 510-577-3230 or contact the Anonymous Tip Line at 510-577-3278.