The two teens injured in the Oct. 28 gang-related shooting
outside the D Mart are recovering from their wounds, family members
said Friday. Meanwhile, police investigators are still following up
with leads and have bumped up patrol in the Chestnut Street
plaza.
Gilroy – The two teens injured in the Oct. 28 gang-related shooting outside the D Mart are recovering from their wounds, family members said Friday. Meanwhile, police investigators are still following up with leads and have bumped up patrol in the Chestnut Street plaza.
“Things are progressing,” said Sgt. Greg Flippo of the Anti-Crime Team. “We’re taking every step necessary … Obviously we’ve patrolled a little more in that area, but all patrol (officers are) trying to be more active in their suppression of gang activity.”
Police are searching for two Hispanic males seen leaving the scene in a late ’80s model tan Honda Accord.
“We have not had such a brazen crime in a long time,” Flippo said. “We want to nip any gang wars in the bud.”
The last time a shooting occurred in public in broad daylight was in the late 1980s to early ’90s, Flippo said.
The two victims – a 14-year-old and a 16-year-old – were shot after a verbal altercation with the two suspects in the parking lot shortly after 4pm.
The shooter fired once from what may be a shotgun. The 16-year-old took the brunt of the blast, suffering more than 20 pellet wounds in the back and left arm. He underwent surgery that night and is still in the hospital, family members said.
The 14-year-old was released over the weekend.
“The kids are okay. Right now we don’t want any retaliation,” a family member of one of the boys said Friday. “We’ve been cooperating (with police).”
One of the teens was apparently wearing maroon, which family members believe the shooters interpreted as involvement in the Norteño gang.
“We’re not in a gang, but because we’re Latino I guess they think (we are),” she said.
Family members have stopped sleeping in their own houses and stay away from the southside of town.
“This is not fair. We should be able to wear what we want and go where we want,” she said. “Five years ago I felt safe. Now I want to pack up and leave – but I’m not going to let some little gang kids run me out of town.”
According to onlookers at scene, the shopping plaza is a hot spot for the Sureño gang, however, police said if incidents have been occurring, they are not being reported.
The teen’s family members are upset because the gunmen opened fire when one of the victim’s 3-year-old niece was present.
“Anyone that’s going to pull a gun knows not to pull a gun out when there’s children around,” she said. “This is Gilroy. Let’s bring it back up to where it was.”
Anyone with information about the Oct. 28th shooting may call police at 846-0350.
