Hollister
– Police are searching for suspects believed to have been
involved a fight between two rival gangs Friday night that ended in
gunfire.
Hollister – Police are searching for suspects believed to have been involved a fight between two rival gangs Friday night that ended in gunfire.
Shots erupted from the 200 block of Haydon Street in Hollister shortly after 5pm following what police believe was a clash between rival members of the Norteño and Sureño street gangs, Hollister Police Capt. Bob Brooks said. No one was injured during the altercation, and the suspects fled the scene before police arrived, he said.
What began as a fight quickly escalated into a shooting.
“One group challenged the other group to fight,” Brooks said. “That group left to get reinforcements.”
Police believe the Sureños challenged the Norteños, then the Norteños left and returned with about six members, some wielding bats. One suspect produced a gun and fired an unknown number of shots, Brooks said. Both groups fled.
Police responded to a 9-1-1 call and quickly sealed off the street, located just one block from San Benito Street. As of press time on Friday police had only vague descriptions of the suspects and were still interviewing witnesses.
“We have a lot more eyewitnesses than we’ve spoken with,” Brooks said.
Brooks encouraged anyone with more information to step forward and contact the Hollister Police Department at 831-636-4330.
Michael Van Cassell covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach him at 637-5566 ext. 335, or mv*********@fr***********.com
