Gilroy – Two massive melees this weekend resulted in bloodshed,
but few arrests. The ruckus started shortly after 1am Saturday
morning, when a crowd of 50 people, spilling out of Chips N Salsa,
came to blows behind the Econo Furniture store at Monterey and
Sixth streets.
Gilroy – Two massive melees this weekend resulted in bloodshed, but few arrests.
The ruckus started shortly after 1am Saturday morning, when a crowd of 50 people, spilling out of Chips N Salsa, came to blows behind the Econo Furniture store at Monterey and Sixth streets. When police arrived, the mob fled, leaving three wounded people in its wake: one injured with a glass bottle, one with a blade and one with simple fists. Police say they have no suspect information and were not able to provide the conditions of the people hurt in the fight.
“I don’t know what happened,” said Ramona Salas, who lives across the railroad tracks, beyond the parking lot where the fight erupted. From her bed, she could hear the fight, but didn’t look, scared of what she might see. “I heard a bunch of yelling, a bunch of screaming. I didn’t even want to listen … I was very, very afraid.”
Monday morning, workers at Econo Furniture had no idea that a fight had happened Saturday. True, the parking lot was strewn with broken glass, they said, but it’s like that after every weekend.
Only one man, Patrick Goold, of Solis Drive in northwest Gilroy, was arrested just after the incident – but on drunken driving charges. The 10 officers who arrived at the scene searched the area for suspects, victims and evidence.
About 24 hours later, another unrelated fight broke out at 1:20am Sunday morning on Adams Court in east Gilroy. More than 40 people, attending two different house parties, flooded into the street where two men grappled. Police say 20-year-old Raymond Cavazos, a Morgan Hill resident, stabbed another man multiple times, slicing his upper torso; the victim was airlifted to a nearby trauma center, and survived. Cavazos was arrested and charged with attempted murder.
When police arrived, partygoers fled, jumping from one nearby rooftop to the next. Eight officers pursued them, but most escaped.
Thus far, said Gilroy Police Sgt. Chad Gallacinao, there’s no indication that either fight was gang-related.
“The investigation’s continuing,” said Gallacinao, “and hopefully, as it develops, we’ll be able to determine why these fights happened.”
Anyone with information may call the Gilroy Police Department at 846-0350.
