Vigil Planned for Jesse Lopez

Community members will gather Thursday evening at to mourn the death of and take a stand against violence in the city.

Jesse Lopez was mortally wounded Saturday night after he and a friend left a quinceñera celebration at the . The two boys, both 14, met new acquaintances in the parking lot outside the event—a coming-of-age party traditional in Mexican culture—and drove up Hecker Pass, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Around 8:15 p.m. in a gravel turnout about four miles outside of Watsonville, Jesse and his friend met hostile gunfire. Jesse was shot several times and fell to the ground. His friend, hit in the leg by a bullet, escaped into the brush and hid until emergency responders arrived, according to the Sheriff's Office.

"Both victims were targeted," Sheriff's Lt. Fred Plageman said. "The surviving victim was fortunate to be able to run away and save himself."

Jesse died at the hospital.

David Moreno Sanchez, 19, Alejandro Alexis Rodriguez, 18, Gonzalez, 22, Carlos Valencia, 20, and a fifth young man were arrested by Santa Cruz police for throwing gang signs at a convenience store near downtown Santa Cruz about 90 minutes after Jesse was shot.

Sheriff's detectives connected Sanchez, Rodriguez, Gonzalez and Valencia to the fatal shooting, according to Plageman.

Some of the men arrested were the ones who lured the boys up the mountain. The others were in the second car that stopped in the turnout. Plageman declined to say which suspects were in which vehicles or who fired the deadly shots.

However, Sanchez and Rodriguez were arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder, while Gonzalez and Valencia were booked for being accessories to the crime, according to County Jail records.

Plageman also declined to say how Jesse and his friend were convinced to leave the party—which was patrolled by two sheriff's deputies—by their eventual assailants.

"There's no doubt the 14-year-olds were taken advantage of and they were victimized by cold-blooded killers," Plageman said.

All four suspects made their first court appearance Wednesday and public defenders were appointed to their cases. They are due back in court Dec. 20 to enter pleas, according to court records.

The suspects as well as Jesse had prior contacts with law enforcement, Plageman said. He declined to discuss specifics about their criminal histories or anything regarding the surviving victim.

"We do believe it was gang related," Plagemand said. "All of the players involved have gang affiliations."

The gun used in the shooting hasn't been found. Plageman said deputies gathered shell casings at the shooting scene.

Jesse will be remembered Thursday during a vigil at the plaza. That starts at 5:30 p.m. His viewing is 5-7 p.m. Sunday at and the Rosary is 7-9 p.m. Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at , followed by burial at . All services are open to the public.