Crime & Safety

Gangs Blamed for Saturday Slaying

A 22-year-old Watsonville man died after he was shot on Rodriguez Street; no arrests have been made.

Police said Monday they have few leads in the city's latest homicide:

"There's not much," Watsonville police Sgt. Saul Gonzalez said Monday morning. "We're working on some leads, trying to get ahold of some possible witnesses, who are reluctant."

The gang-motivated shooting happened around 11:40 p.m. Saturday on the 600 block of Rodriguez Street. The man, whose name has not been released, was walking down the street when four men confronted him, according to police.

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One fired several shots, striking the 22-year-old. The foursome ran to a nearby vehicle and drove away, police said. Neighbors called 911.

The 22-year-old was gravely injured. Medics drove him to a trauma center in San Jose for treatment—it was too foggy for a medical helicopter to land in Santa Cruz County—but he died at the hospital.

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Gonzalez said that while the homicide was gang-motivated, the victim wasn't someone the police had had problems with.

Also, the sergeant said investigators don't believe the homicide is connected to other recent gang crime in the area.

On Monday, detectives were scouring for leads.

"We know there are potentially witnesses who were on Rodriguez Street, who are reluctant to come forward, which is frustrating for us and disheartening for the family," Gonzalez said.

The homicide is the fourth in Watsonville this year. Three of the four were gang-related. No arrests have been made in those killings.

Detectives ask anyone with information about Saturday night's shooting call the Investigations Bureau at 831-768-3350 or the Crime Tip Line at 831-768-3544.


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