Nine-year-old investigation leads to arrest of two alleged
Norteno gang members who shot bystander
Morgan Hill – Though nine years have passed since Carmelo Rodriguez was shot down from behind, the men police think are responsible for his murder have been tracked down and put behind bars.
Two Stockton men were arrested within the last week in connection with a the murder, believed to be a retaliation hit stemming from a fight between two rival Gilroy Norteño gangs.
Morgan Hill police Sgt. David Swing said that Rico Alonzo Clarke, 28, was arrested at his home in Stockton on July 20, and Uvaldo Salinas, 31, was arrested at home Wednesday morning.
Both men were booked into Santa Clara County Jail on charges of murder and attempted murder and are being held without bail.
Swing said there are no other cold homicide cases in Morgan Hill.
On June 13, 1997, Rodriguez, 29, of Morgan Hill was shot in the back of the head in the parking lot of 40 West Dunne Ave. According to Swing, Rodriguez was visiting friends at the apartment complex and was “an innocent bystander.” He was in the carport area, according to reports, when shots were fired over a wooden fence at the complex.
Rodriguez died at the scene, Swing said; the person who was allegedly the intended target received minor injuries and survived.
Investigation into the incident led police to believe two Gilroy Norteño gangs were involved. The shooting was likely retaliation for a fight between the two gangs that occurred in the same area a few days before the shooting, Swing said. An ongoing feud between the two gangs was apparently the cause of the fight. The suspects in the homicide were allegedly attacked by the other gang, and one of the suspects was hit on the head with a board during the fight.
Arrest warrants were issued by the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office last week for Clarke, Salinas and Roberto Emilio Aparicio, 29, of El Salvador. Aparicio was deported several years ago, Swing said, and is believed to still be in El Salvador.
Schembri said the United States does not have extradition privileges with El Salvador, but he would not be likely extradited anyway because he was deported.
The case was re-opened in December of last year by Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office investigator Michael Schembri, who said he decided to delve into it again because the case seemed to be one that could be solved.
“It was so complete. Good work had been done by Morgan Hill. It just needed to be polished,” he said. “You could see who the players were, the evidence was well-maintained, see what was going on.”
Schembri requested files from the Morgan Hill Police Department and talked to the previous investigator, Swing said.
“He basically conducted a whole new investigation,” he added.
Although Swing said Schembri spent several hundred hours re-interviewing witnesses and others, including former and present gang members, Schembri was quick to praise the work of the local police department and former Morgan Hill police Det. Chris Wagner.
“This case would not have been cleared had it not been for the tenacity and efforts of investigator Schembri,” Morgan Hill Police Chief Bruce Cumming said. “He came to us and asked about our 1997 homicide and asked for everything we had. His efforts are what led to these gang members being taken off the street.”
Swing said since the homicide, both Salinas and Clarke have lived and worked in Stockton. Salinas also lived for a time in Texas.
“Our goal is always to convict the guilty and acquit the innocent, so the more information we have on a case, the better,” Swing said.
Anyone with information about the homicide is asked to contact Det. Mindy Zen at (408) 779-2101. To leave an anonymous tip, call Crime Stoppers at (408) 947-STOP.
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106 ext. 202 or at md****@mo*************.com.
