A group of suspected gang members fired their weapons into the
air early Saturday morning after holding attendees at a birthday
party hostage and fighting with guests, fracturing one of the
guest’s skull and injuring another.
Morgan Hill
A group of suspected gang members fired their weapons into the air early Saturday morning after holding attendees at a birthday party hostage and fighting with guests, fracturing one of the guest’s skull and injuring another.
One teenager was arrested early after the gang-related incident in a residential neighborhood.
No one was injured by the 1:05 a.m. shots, but two people were hurt during a fight before the shooting occurred.
A 17-year-old Morgan Hill male was booked into Santa Clara County Juvenile Hall for alleged assault with a deadly weapon, false imprisonment, shooting into an occupied building and violation of probation, according to Morgan Hill police Cmdr. David Swing.
Police have identified Richard Sandoval, 22, of San Martin as a second suspect, Swing added.
“Two primary suspects have been identified, but there are others involved,” he said. “We hope the witnesses have the courage to tell us what happened.”
Swing said there was a birthday party at a residence on Christine Lynn Drive, and some time during the party that began Friday evening, the 17-year-old suspect was kicked out of the party.
The party was continuing into Saturday morning at the residence when someone knocked on the door, Swing said. When the door was opened, the suspect, and several others who had been in the shadows not visible from the doorway, barged into the home. They were wearing hooded sweatshirts and red bandanas covering their faces and allegedly held hostage those inside, a group of approximately 15-20 males and females in their late teens to early 20s.
A fight broke out, and two of the victims were hit in the head with unknown objects. One suffered a fractured skull and was hospitalized, Swing said, and the other suffered a head injury but was not taken to the hospital.
The suspects then ran from the residents, apparently firing multiple shots in the air as they left. One bullet hit the residence, but no one was injured.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Det. Greg Dini at 408.776.7323. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers at 408.947.STOP (7867).
