Community Corner

Gang Members Accused in Bowling Alley Shooting Plead Out

Men will get 42-year sentences for shooting a 7-year-old boy and stabbing a gang dropout last year.

Two Watsonville gang members accused of a gang-motivated attack in a bowling alley more than a year ago pleaded no contest Wednesday to charges that will send them to prison for decades.

Abraham Santoyo, 19, and Jordan "Bugsy" Macias, 21, showed little emotion during the court appearance. Both dressed in jail-issue yellow clothing, they answered Judge Paul Burdick's questions with "yes, sir," and "no, sir."

The violence erupted March 5, 2010, in the now-closed Cabrillo Lanes on Auto Center Drive. Santoyo, the gunman, and Macias went to the bowling alley on a busy Friday night. When they spotted a gang dropout, they decided to get weapons and go back to try to kill him, according to the District Attorney's Office. 

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They went back with a gun and a knife, and Macias repeatedly stabbed the 20-year-old dropout in the neck. Santoyo opened fire on the man, but missed. A stray bullet struck a 7-year-old boy who was at the bowling alley with relatives.

Bowling alley patrons identified Santoyo and Macias, and police arrested them the next day. The two have been held in Santa Cruz County Jail ever since.

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The violence caused outcry in Watsonville, because it occurred in a public gathering place, and because a bystander—a child—was injured.

"Their actions—attacking someone for leaving the gang and shooting a small child—are the worst kind of gang violence," Assistant District Attorney Charlie Baum said.

On Wednesday, Macias pleaded no contest to attempted murder, assault with a firearm, a gun use enhancement and active participation in a criminal street gang. Santoyo pleaded no contest to attempted murder, a gun use enhancement, personal infliction of great bodily injury and active participation in a criminal street gang.

The pair will be eligible for parole in 35 years.

Both men have extensive criminal histories, according to court records. Santoyo has a juvenile record, and Macias—whose face, neck and arms are covered with tattoos, many gang-related—was on parole at the time of the bowling alley attack.

The relatives of the men went to court Wednesday for the pleadings, which were delayed a day, because an attorney was ill.

Outside of court, Santoyo's sister, Esmeralda Santoyo of Watsonville, said, "It was a wrong choice." 

She said her brother was the first Juvenile Hall inmate to graduate from high school while incarcerated and had been doing outreach work to deter people from crime. She doesn't know why he went to the bowling alley with friends that night.

"He was changing a lot," his sister said. "He was changing his life."

Santoyo and Macias will be sentenced June 1.


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