Early this morning, two unknown men followed a 22-year-old man
from a party in Santa Cruz to the Safeway parking lot on First
Street, where they punched and stomped him unconscious, police
said.
Early this morning, two unknown men followed a 22-year-old man from a party in Santa Cruz to the Safeway parking lot on First Street, where they punched and stomped him unconscious, police said.
The victim was airlifted to San Jose for severe head and facial injuries, but Sgt. Jim Gillio said police expected him to recover. Graveyard officers responded to the scene about 1:50 a.m. and discovered the victim lying unconscious in the front parking lot. The officers are still completing their reports, Gillio said.
The men apparently got into an altercation with the victim at the party and may have been captured on a security camera outside the 24-hour grocery store, Gillio said. Late this morning, the store manager – who would not give her name – would not describe Safeway’s security system and acted surprised after hearing about the attack because she had not heard anything from employees.
As for police, Gillio also could not say how officers heard about the attack because they were still filing information, but he did say they obtained “a bunch” of witness statements about the brutal attack, which did not appear to be gang-related. Because police are hot on the trail of the suspects, Gillio declined to describe them, except to say they drove a black VW Jetta and are from Gilroy.
“We have strong leads and the case is under active investigation,” Gillio said.
Officers attempted to interview the victim at some point this morning and plan to ask him more questions as he heals, but it still remains unclear whether the suspects chased the victim for 35 miles at high speeds over Highway 152 or if they cruised behind the victim on another route, Gillio said. The fight at First Street seems to indicate they arrived via Highway 152 – which levels off into western Gilroy – but detectives are still digging, Gillio said.
Anyone with information can call police at 846-0350 or leave an anonymous tip at 846-0330.