Hollister
– Local police are investigating the suspected murder of a
Hollister teenager who was run over by a car more than once Monday
night following what may have been a gang-related dispute.
Hollister – Local police are investigating the suspected murder of a Hollister teenager who was run over by a car more than once Monday night following what may have been a gang-related dispute.
Police believe 18-year-old Daniel Gallegos was murdered after a fight with two other Hollister teens believed to be involved with the Sureño street gang shortly before midnight in the 200 block of Hillcrest Road, said Officer Rosie Betanio.
Gallegos had been walking down the street with his brother, a 16-year-old whom police have declined to identify, when two teenagers approached in a tan, late-model Ford sedan, Betanio said. The two suspects, described as Hispanic males in their late teens, got out of the car and approached Gallegos and his brother, Betanio said. Based on eyewitness statements, police believe one was carrying a crowbar and the other was carrying a beer bottle when they approached the victim and his brother. A fist-fight between the four teens ensued, Betanio said. Investigators do not know why the fight stopped, but believe that afterward the two suspects got back into the Ford sedan and ran over Gallegos, Betanio said.
“We believe it was a forward and reverse type of thing,” Betanio said.
Witness statements and evidence collected from the scene indicated that the suspects ran over Gallegos, stopped, put the car in reverse, and ran over him again before fleeing the scene, Betanio said.
Police believe that the two suspects have ties to the Sureño criminal street gang. She did not know if the victim had any gang ties. Police also believe that both suspects were injured during the altercation.
“There is a good possibility that this was gang-related,” she said. “But we are still investigating that.”
Although police believe they know both suspects involved in the murder, no arrests had been made as of press time on Thursday, said Hollister Police Chief Jeff Miller.
“It’s too early in our investigation to positively identify the suspects,” he said. “That said, the primary focus of our detectives is to complete this investigation and arrest those responsible.”
Miller said that after arrests are made, he will work with the San Benito County District Attorney’s Office to file the appropriate criminal charges.
Several passersby saw Gallegos lying in the street and called police, Betanio said. Gallegos was flown by CalStar emergency helicopter to San Jose Regional Hospital with serious injuries to his legs, chest and head, according to police. Betanio said that shortly before 6am Tuesday morning, Hollister Police detectives were told that Gallegos had died. Betanio did not know the time of death as of press time on Tuesday.
The exact cause of death is unknown pending autopsy results from the San Benito County Coroners Office. Undersheriff Pat Turturici said initial reports indicated Gallego’s death was likely the result of blunt force trauma. Autopsy results are expected to be released later this week, according to Turturici.
The incident marks the first homicide in Hollister since 2003, Miller said.
“I’m not going to press the panic button,” he said. “But in the past 12 months we have seen some very serious gang incidents that indicate we do, indeed, have a problem.”
Miller said that if further investigation shows Gallegos’ murder was gang-related, it would be a signal of escalating street violence. Last October, police responded to four gang-related drive-by shootings in Hollister, but none resulted in death.
“This is fatal, and if it is truly gang-related, that is of great concern,” Miller said. “However, I’m hesitant to speculate.”
Miller said local police will be patrolling city streets “extra alert for any escalating violence that this incident may portend.”
Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact the Hollister Police Department at 831-636-4330.
Brett Rowland covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected].
