HOLLISTER—Police on Saturday arrested a Hollister fugitive who was the subject of a three-hour manhunt in Gilroy two weeks ago.
Authorities charged Larry Quiroz, 22, with attempted murder in connection with the Easter 2014 shooting of a man in Hollister. Two other suspects already were in custody.
Quiroz was arrested March 21 at an apartment complex on the 1500 block of Valley View Road in Hollister after he was spotted at a window. He attempted to flee Hollister police through a back window but was met San Benito County sheriff’s deputies.
With the suspect cornered, authorities entered the apartment and found him hiding. After a brief struggle he was taken into custody but not before police said he resisted arrest and was bitten by a K-9.
Quiroz was booked into San Benito County Jail. In his apartment, investigators found a loaded handgun, drugs, paraphernalia and stolen property, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Hollister police believe Quiroz is one of three suspects who shot and nearly killed a man on the 800 block of Washington Street in 2014. The other suspects, Roy Maldonado and Blake Lopez, were booked on attempted murder charges shortly after the crime.
On March 10, Quiroz fled from HPD detectives at approximately 2:30 p.m. as they scoured motels looking for him. They found him at the Travel Inn on Monterey Road in Gilroy near the U.S. 101 overpass, but he fled, HPD Detective Staci Esqueda told the Dispatch during the intense manhunt that followed.
Despite three hours of looking and searchers from at least five law enforcement agencies, including a California Highway Patrol helicopter, at least 20 vehicles and dogs that searched farm fields, wooded areas and the creek bed adjacent to the Gilroy Sports Park, the suspect escaped capture.
Hollister authorities are asking anyone with information about the case to call investigators at 831-636-4330 or the anonymous WeTip Hotline at 800-87-CRIME.
