Gilroyan C. Villagrana, 36, the Hells Angel member 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 dead, was arraigned Thursday on a charge of second-degree murder, according to the Associated Press.
The AP reports Villagrana pleaded not guilty in a Reno court to charges of shooting two members of the Vagos, a rival motorcycle gang of the Hells Angels. Police say Villagrana was videotaped shooting into the crowd during the disruption between the two gangs on Sept. 23 inside John Ascuaga’s Nugget in Sparks; a fatal tussle that left San Jose Hells Angel chapter president Jeffrey “Jethro” Pettigrew dead.
According to the AP, Washoe District Judge Connie Steinheimer tentatively assigned Villagrana a Jan. 17 trial date – the same trial day for Ernesto Gonzales, the San Francisco Vagos accused of killing Pettigrew. Villagrana’s Las Vegas lawyer Richard Schonfeld, however, doesn’t expect a trial before the end of 2012; the judge indicated that likely will be the case, the AP states.
In an earlier statement delivered to the AP, Sparks police Detective Rocky Triplett said Villagrana was charged with murder because he can be seen on casino security video drawing a gun and shooting at others.
