Crime

While the family of the 3-year-old boy who was fatally shot the evening of July 5 has been left heartbroken, the investigation surrounding the cause of his death plods along under a cloud of confidentiality.

Gilroy Police responded to 94 fireworks-related complaints the evening of July 4, according to Sgt. Chad Gallacinao, the highest amount of fireworks calls for at least the past three Independence Days.

Despite admitting guilt to police several weeks ago, the suspect arrested in the hit-and-run that critically injured Joshua “Joshie” Valdez pleaded not guilty to the charge of felony hit-and-run causing injury Friday at South County Courthouse in Morgan Hill.

Sandra Arias admitted to police that she accidentally hit Joshua Valdez with her car near a Morgan Hill intersection last month, and that she drank alcohol before driving that night, according to court records.

A 3-year-old Gilroy boy – the son of a San Jose Police officer and a Gilroy High graduate who many described as a “fine young man” – died from a gunshot wound Thursday evening, according to the Gilroy Police Department.

A Gilroy man who's been in custody since last May for killing his wife's 6-week-old Chihuahua puppy pleaded guilty to two counts of felony animal cruelty and once count of misdemeanor battery on Thursday.

The Avoid the 13 Santa Clara County DUI Campaign is reminding citizens that law enforcement will be stepping up patrols and cracking down on impaired drivers throughout the weekend. The upped vigilance is part of the ongoing “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” enforcement crackdown to catch and arrest impaired drivers who put themselves and others at risk.

No volunteer search efforts to find missing teen Sierra LaMar are scheduled for Wednesday due to the Independence Day holiday, according to her family.