Juan Miguel Perez is accused of wounding innocent bystander
during gang-related attack
San Martin – Juan Miguel Perez pleaded not guilty Monday at the Santa Clara County Courthouse in San Martin to two separate assault with a deadly weapon charges in connection with a 6-year-old gang-related shooting.
Perez, 31, stands accused of shooting an innocent bystander sitting inside his Eigleberry Street home after firing a gun at a car in front of the victim’s house March 29, 2000. He is also charged with suspicion of assaulting a Gilroy man with a beer bottle who was trying to purchase bread from a street vendor about 15 minutes before the 10pm shooting.
According to the prosecution, Perez, 31, is a Sureño gang member and was going to be deported late last year when Arizona police discovered he had a California warrant for his arrest.
The victim, who was 25 at the time of the incident, testified during the preliminary hearing March 2 that he was shot in the foot while sitting in his home.
Witnesses told police they believed the suspect was intoxicated and agitated at the time of the attacks.
Two witnesses positively identified Perez in police line ups for both incidents.
One witness told police he saw the suspect point a gun at a red car near the intersection of Eigleberry and Ninth streets and fire once.
Police responded to a call from a suspect with a similar description, 15 minutes before for brandishing a gun and assaulting a man with a beer bottle on Southgate Court.
Perez faces two felony counts for assault with a deadly weapon, including one with a firearm, a felony violation for discharging a gun in a home, and for active participation in a criminal street gang.
Trial is set to begin April 24.
