Gang Slaying Investigation Pushes Ahead

Sheriff's detectives said little Wednesday about the ongoing investigation into the killing of a Soquel teenager at a birthday party last weekend, but indicated they're throwing all the manpower they can into the probe.

Luis Duran, 19, of Soquel died of multiple gunshot wounds, an autopsy showed.

Two men had approached Duran, who was stabbed at another party last month, and one fired a handgun, according to Lt. Fred Plageman, head of investigations at the Sheriff's Office.

Stray bullets struck another young woman, 18—she was treated and released from a local hospital—and a pickup truck near Duran.

Duran fell to the ground. The gunman and his accomplice ran, possibly to a waiting car. They haven't been found.

Initially, detectives were stymied by uncooperative witnesses, which is common when a gang crime occurs. Duran's friends have said he wasn't a gang member but Plageman said he had been repeatedly targeted by gang members who perceived Duran to be a rival, including when he was stabbed in June.

But Wednesday sheriff's detectives, with assistance from other local cops, did "a big operation in the whole Watsonville area," Plageman said.

He declined to elaborate about the effort, including what investigators were looking for and who was targeted.

“We’re forging ahead," Plageman said. "The ball’s still rolling.”