Quick Take
The two suspects, a 20-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy from Monterey, face charges of attempted homicide, shooting at an inhabited dwelling or occupied vehicle, and conspiracy to commit a crime in the Nov. 15 shooting that injured two bystanders on Santa Cruz's Westside.
A 20-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy are facing several charges following an apparent gang shooting Nov. 15 on Westside Santa Cruz that injured two bystanders.
Santa Cruz police say they arrested two suspects on Friday in connection with the shooting, charging them with attempted homicide, shooting at an inhabited dwelling or occupied vehicle, and conspiracy to commit a crime.
Esdras Plascencia, 20, was arrested within county limits, while the 16-year-old boy was arrested in the city of Santa Cruz. Police said the juvenile lives in Monterey County.
The shooting happened shortly before 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 15, when, police said a silver sedan pulled up to the intersection of Almar Avenue and Rankin Street near the Parish Publick House. A suspect exited the vehicle and fired multiple shots, hitting two victims before returning to the car and speeding away from the scene.
SCPD Deputy Chief Jon Bush previously told Lookout that investigators identified the shooting as gang-related, and that the two victims are white males in their early-to-mid 50s, who are expected to survive the shooting. They are still recovering in the hospital, according to a SCPD news release. Bush also said that the two victims were uninvolved in the conflict that led to the shooting.
SCPD Lt. Karina Ceceña told Lookout on Monday that video surveillance as well as warrants that led to discovery of “digital forensic” evidence played a major role in the arrest. She added that the officer on scene described a silver sedan as the suspect vehicle, which others at the scene corroborated.
The Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team, Watsonville Police Department, Santa Cruz Auto Theft Reduction Enforcement and SCPD’s Emergency Services Unit also participated in the investigation.
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