One teen arrested, four other suspects sought after they open
fire on group of men outside East Seventh Street complex; no one
injured
Gilroy – A 17-year-old Gilroy teen was arrested in connection with a drive-by shooting that has residents of the East Seventh Street neighborhood worried about escalating violence.
The incident occurred about 9pm Monday when a man in a van rolling past an apartment complex on East Seventh Street opened fire on three men standing outside one unit, police said.
The shooting is Gilroy’s third in 10 days and police believe the increase in gang activity may be evidence of territorial warfare. No one was injured in the attack, however, a mother and child were inside the apartment where the bullet penetrated. As of press time, police were actively following several leads to arrest the four other occupants inside the van.
Meanwhile, residents are upset that gang violence has found its way to their doorsteps.
“I have a 7-month-old sister,” one resident said. “I was more frightened for her. It just made me feel unsafe – it happened right across the street from my house. There’s a lot of families, there’s a lot of children around here. If they got a problem they can’t go shooting at people’s houses.”
According to police, a gray minivan heading westbound with five Hispanic males aged 18 to 24 years old, drove by 590 Seventh St. yelling gang phrases at the three men in their 20s standing outside the complex. The front passenger pulled out a handgun and fired one shot, police said. The bullet was recovered and has been sent to the crime lab in San Jose for testing.
“As officers were conducting a check of the area, they found someone four blocks from the scene who matched the description of someone involved in the shooting. (The 17-year-old) was identified by witnesses as being involved and arrested,” said Sgt. Kurt Svardal. “The Anti-Crime Team will be looking into who he is and whether he is a gang member.”
As of press time Tuesday police were uncertain whether any of the victims are rival gang members.
Prior to the shooting, ACT investigators stepped up enforcement tactics to suppress the rash of gang violence that erupted two weeks ago.
A 23-year-old Gilroy gang member was shot in the leg April 17 during a late afternoon shooting on Broadway Street. And a day before, a 25-year-old Santa Cruz man was shot in both legs after leaving the drive-through at the Jack in the Box on First Street.
“We don’t know what’s causing all this. It is almost looking territorial,” Svardal said. “When you take into account a couple of attacks, not just the shootings, that of course makes us wonder.”
Richard, an East Seventh Street resident, heard the gunfire as he pulled into his driveway.
“To be honest, I think it’s blue verses red,” he said, referring to the colors worn by members of the Sureño gang and its rival the Norteño gang. “This is the blue section. I guess around the corner is the red section. I lived here a year and I never had problems before. This is the first time I heard gunshots.”
The neighborhood is a mix of apartment complexes and one-story homes. Eliot Elementary School is located just one-tenth of a mile from the shooting. The surrounding neighborhoods are dense with families. Most children walk to Eliot from their homes.
“Back in the day, East Seventh Street used to be a lot more active (with gangs). That area has not been a major problem in recent years,” Svardal said. “It is seemingly evident that gang members are becoming more active in their acts of violence.”
