At least two Gilroyans were injured and Morgan Hill experienced
its first homicide in four years during a weekend full of gang
violence.
At least two Gilroyans were injured and Morgan Hill experienced its first homicide in four years during a weekend full of gang violence.
The Friday night shooting death of Juan Jose Arellano, Jr., 24, of Hollister, was the third gang-related violent crime in a four-hour period in Morgan Hill. Earlier there was a physical assault of a 16-year-old male at Main and Hale avenues and a stabbing at Tennant Station, Morgan Hill police said. No arrests have been made. Then, on Saturday night, a 35-year-old Hispanic male was shot in a gang-related incident in east Gilroy, Sgt. Jim Gillio said.
“Ours was gang-related, but it’s definitely unknown if there’s any connection,” Gillio said. “Right now we have nothing to show they’re connected but there’s always the chance they might be.”
In Morgan Hill, just before 11:20 p.m. Friday, an unidentified man approached Arellano – known as “Green Eyes” – on the 17600 block of Crest Avenue in Morgan Hill and the two exchanged words about their residences and gang affiliations, Morgan Hill police Cmdr. Joe Sampson said. The suspect then shot at Arellano several times, striking him at point-blank range in the upper body.
Witnesses said there were at least two assailants, Hispanic males between 16 and 20 years old who wore dark blue clothing – a color associated with the Sureño gang. The suspects ran away, possibly through nearby Galvin Park. The shooter used a 9 mm handgun, and police found several casings on the ground.
Like the Morgan Hill incident, the shooting in Gilroy involved more than one suspect who approached the victim on foot, police said. The Gilroy victim was walking alone near East Seventh and Chestnut streets at 11:31 p.m. Saturday when a man wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and pants shot him multiple times with a handgun, police said. Gillio would not say where the victim was hit.
Area residents heard shots and reported the incident to police, police said. The victim fled the area and police found him soon after at a nearby but unspecified residence. The victim was then transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Police do not have any further description of the suspect but from the nature and style of the shooting, deemed it gang-related, Gillio said.
“This shooting is indicative of a gang-shooting because gang members will often approach their victims on foot or in a vehicle and then flee the scene,” Gillio said.
Though it’s unclear if the Gilroy suspects or victim were wearing gang colors, the Morgan Hill victim and his girlfriend were both wearing red – affiliated with the Norteño gang – at the time of his death. Arellano was not a validated gang member, but he was affiliated, Sampson said. According to newspaper archives, Arellano was arrested in May 2008 for domestic violence.
Witnesses say “Green Eyes” was shot in the head, but Sampson could not confirm this.
Several 911 calls were made about 11:20 p.m. and the first officer arrived five minutes later, Sampson said. Arellano was pronounced dead at 11:35 p.m.
On Monday morning, red and black balloons floated in the air above the mailbox at 17689 Crest Ave., where the shooting took place, and candles and flowers adorned the memorial.
Kristy Martinez, 19, said Arellano was like family to her.
“He had been arrested. He spent his time in jail and when he got out he stayed away from all this stuff. But (Friday) night, it just caught up with him,” Martinez said.
Martinez said Arellano lived in Hollister with his girlfriend but came up to Crest Avenue Apartments often. She said he was a great person, fun and always happy.
She was in the laundry room when she heard three gunshots. She said she locked herself inside for about 20 minutes and came out to see Arellano on the ground and police and neighbors around. Sampson said there were more than 10 residents outside when police arrived.
At 8:15 p.m. Friday, parents reported that their 16-year-old son was skateboarding at the bus stop near Main and Hale avenues when he was approached by a man who asked if he “gang-banged.” The 16-year-old – wearing a red shirt – said no, and the man beat him up, causing minor injuries, Sampson said.
Then, at about 9 p.m., Jerry Devito, 31, of Gilroy, was stabbed 14 times by four light brown-skinned men while they yelled “Sur,” Sampson said.
The assault happened near Safeway in Tennant Station. Devito, who has a red star tattoo on his face, took a taxi to Saint Louise Regional Hospital, where staff called Gilroy police. Devito was treated for minor injuries, including a large cut below his left armpit, and released Saturday.
No suspects have been identified, Sampson said.
“We’re obviously trying to piece this together. There’s a gang thread through the whole thing,” Sampson said, adding that police had no indication of impending gang violence. Likewise, the school resource officers, who sometimes anticipate weekend gang activity, saw no warning of the violence.
“This one came out of the blue,” he said.
Police said they would make arrests soon, Sampson said. Friday’s violence was an “aberration.”
“Over the last year, overall crime has been down, including assault, violent crime and crimes against a person,” Sampson said. “People might start to ask, ‘Is this a gang war?’ But in actuality it’s been very peaceful these past six or eight months.”
Anyone with details about this incident can call Morgan Hill police at 779-2101. Reporter Sara Suddes contributed reporting to this story.
