Police on Monday released the identity of the suspect arrested in connection to Sunday’s shooting during the Hollister Rally, while the three gunshot victims were reported in stable condition, according to Hollister police.
The shooting was reported shortly after 10:30 a.m. at the Chevron gas station on San Felipe Road at Highway 25. It resulted in three victims being airlifted to a Bay Area hospital and another victim of assault who declined treatment at the scene.
All the injured victims are members of the “Boozefighters” Motorcycle club from the state of Nevada, according to a Hollister police statement. Police believe it was part of a feud with rival biker club, “Wino’s Crew”.
Michael Richard Kich, 42, from Reno, Nev., also a Boozefighter, was arrested by police for assault with a deadly weapon after he was suspected of discharging a firearm during the confrontation. He later bailed out of the San Benito County Jail, according to the announcement.
According to the police announcement:
The initial investigation and witness statements revealed the confrontation was with rival motorcycle club, “Wino’s Crew”. There are no local chapters of Wino’s Crew in the Hollister area.
Several of those involved, witnesses and victims, are not cooperating with police in this investigation. The cause of this incident is still under investigation. However, the Wino’s Crew website hints at a feud since 1996 between the “Boozefighters” and the “Wino’s Crew”. http://www.winoscrew.com/history.html
The shooting also is related to a fight on July 5th inside the rally event involving the same two rival groups. In that incident, Kelly Eugene Rivas (51) from Grass Valley, CA, was arrested by Rally Officers for possession of a concealed weapon. Rivas is a member of the “Wino’s Crew” from the Grass Valley Chapter.
If anyone has information related to this investigation, please contact Gang Officer Matt Weiss at the Hollister Police Department at 831-636-4330 #132. Persons wishing to remain anonymous may call WeTip at (800) 78-CRIME. Information provided to WeTip may qualify for a reward.
