Hells Angels member rearrested in shooting case

Cesar Villagrana, 36, the Hells Angel member from Gilroy who was arrested for three felonies connected with the deadly melee in Sparks, Nev. on Sept. 23 that left the San Jose Hells Angels president and former Hollister resident dead, was re-arrested late Thursday in San Jose on an indictment charging him with murder in the case, according to the Associated Press.
This is the latest development for the Gilroy Hells Angel since he was booked Sept. 24 into the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office in Nevada on three felony counts, which included assault with a deadly weapon, carrying a concealed weapon and possession of a stolen firearm. Villagrana’s offenses also included charges of carrying a concealed weapon and aiming a firearm at another person. Both of these charges are gross misdemeanors.
Police say Villagrana was videotaped shooting into the crowd during the disruption between rival motorcycle gangs – the Hells Angels and the Vagos – on Sept. 23 inside John Ascuaga’s Nugget in Sparks that left San Jose Hells Angel chapter president Jeffrey “Jethro” Pettigrew dead.
On Oct. 3, Villagrana’s original $500,000 cash-only bail was reduced to a $150,000 bondable bail, according to Washoe County Sheriff’s Deputy Armando Avina. Shortly after, Villagrana posted the reduced bail and walked free from county jail at 8:56 p.m. Oct. 3, Avina said.
On Monday, San Jose resident Ernesto Gonzalez, 52, – who belongs to rival motorcycle gang Vagos – was extradited from San Francisco to Reno and booked on charges of murder related to Pettigrew’s death, according to a Sparks Police Department press release. “Due to the high profile nature of the incident at the Nugget and the security risks involved in moving Mr. Gonzalez, our agency worked in conjunction with the San Francisco Police Department Fugitive Unit and the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office to transport Mr. Gonzalez while minimizing the risks to everyone involved,” said Sparks police Detective Rocky Triplett in the release.
Triplett told the Associated Press that Villagrana was charged with murder because he can be seen on casino security video drawing a gun and shooting at others.
Calls placed to Triplett and the San Jose Police Department were not returned as of press time.