A former parolee who wanted to test his new gun by firing
several rounds into the hills was arrested Monday night, police
said.
A former parolee who wanted to test his new gun by firing several rounds into the hills was arrested Monday night, police said.
Morgan Hill police received a call from a resident who reported hearing gunshots in the area of Glen Ayre Drive and Llagas Road, Sgt. Shane Palsgrove said. The resident reported hearing at least three shots about 11:20 p.m.
Officers approached the scene and as they were stopped at the intersection of Teresa Lane and Llagas Road, they heard another gunshot, Palsgrove said.
As the officers continued on Llagas Road they saw a white Pontiac Grand Am approaching toward the patrol car, police said. Officers made a traffic stop and talked to the driver, Eric Rosas, 22 of Morgan Hill, who told them a gun was inside the vehicle.
Police then pulled the occupants out of the vehicle and searched the car, Palsgrove said.
Found inside the vehicle was a 9-mm assault rifle with a scope, police said. The gun allegedly belonged to the passenger of the vehicle, Johnny Martinez, 32 of Morgan Hill.
Upon further investigation, police determined Martinez had fired several rounds into the hills surrounding the area of Glen Ayre Drive and Llagas Road, Palsgrove said. The rounds were fired in a southern direction.
Although no people or structures were hit or targeted by the rounds, at least one house sits in the general area of where the suspects were aiming, Palsgrove said.
Martinez, a former parolee for attempted murder and a validated gang member, was arrested and booked on suspicion of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, discharging a firearm toward an inhabited dwelling and possession of an assault rifle, Palsgrove said. He had allegedly purchased the gun recently and wanted to test it.
Rosas was arrested on suspicion of driving without a valid license, according to police.
The incident is still under investigation.
