The investigation continued Tuesday into the death of a
21-year-old Hollister man shot during a barrage of gunfire early
Sunday morning on Valaire Drive outside a house party.
Hollister – The investigation continued Tuesday into the death of a 21-year-old Hollister man shot during a barrage of gunfire early Sunday morning on Valaire Drive outside a house party.
The Sheriff’s Office has sent the bullet that killed Robert Anthony Barraza to be analyzed at the state’s Department of Justice, Undersheriff Pat Turturici said Tuesday. Results are expected within a week to 10 days, he said.
Turturici said Barraza was shot while he was near Valley View Road, at the end of Valaire Drive. There were up to six shooters, the Sheriff’s Office reported. Deputies said Barraza was shot in the right side of his body.
No arrests have been made in Barraza’s death. It was the fourth homicide in San Benito County this year. The Hollister Police Department is investigating the three other homicides, two of which have not been solved.
More than 30 gunshots were fired on Valaire Drive outside a house party early Sunday morning, the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office reported. Another man, who the Sheriff’s Office has declined to identify but who lived at 11 Valaire Drive, was sent to a Bay Area hospital where he remains in stable condition with a gunshot wound, Turturici said.
The man, in his early 20s, is also a suspect in Barraza’s death as he admitted to firing a gun from his home shortly after being shot himself, deputies said.
“We’ve interviewed him a couple of times so far,” Turturici said.
Deputies confiscated multiple guns from the man’s residence, Turturici has said, but he would not specify how many.
Investigators believe the guns belong to the man who was shot, Turturici said. The gun was not registered that authorities suspect the wounded man fired from 11 Valaire Drive, he said.
Turturici said deputies met with Barraza’s family Tuesday to discuss the investigation into his death.
Family members Monday described Barraza as hard working, respectful, likable, dependable and an excellent student. Barraza had joined a heavy equipment operator union, recently bought a truck and was preparing to celebrate his 22nd birthday at the time of his death, family members said.
The Hollister Police Department has reported Barraza could have ties to the Norteño street gang. Barraza’s family members contended Monday that he was not a gang member.
A service for Barraza will be held 10am Friday at Black-Cooper-Sander Funeral Home, according to the parlor. Barraza will be interred at Calvary Cemetery on Hillcrest Road after the service.
