Cops are once again searching for several suspects wanted for
attempted homicide in a gang-related stabbing Friday after a rash
of gang violence over the past several weeks prompted Hollister
police to step up their gang patrol efforts throughout the
city.
Hollister – Cops are once again searching for several suspects wanted for attempted homicide in a gang-related stabbing Friday after a rash of gang violence over the past several weeks prompted Hollister police to step up their gang patrol efforts throughout the city.
A 34-year-old Hollister man was stabbed twice, once in the abdomen and once in the lower back, in front of Albertsons grocery store on McCray Street just before 6pm Friday, said Hollister Police Capt. Bob Brooks. The knife wound to his back was minor, however the wound to his abdomen was serious and he was flown by Life Flight air ambulance to a San Jose-area hospital, Brooks said. Further information concerning his condition was unavailable Monday.
While police did not have information showing whether the victim had gang ties, he said the three suspects who attacked him – two adult Hispanic males and one Hispanic male juvenile – shouted gang-related terminology such as “Norte” during the confrontation and were wearing red, Brooks said. The Norteno gang is one of the two prominent Hispanic street gangs in California along with the Surenos, Brooks said.
Brooks was unable to give out much information due to the pending investigation, however he said the attack followed the victim walking up to the juvenile suspect and introducing himself.
“It appears to be a chance meeting,” he said. “An argument broke out between the juvenile and the victim and an adult stepped in and did the stabbing.”
After the man was stabbed, the suspects fled on foot and police contacted the victim – who was conscious and able to give officers a statement before being transported to the hospital – at the entrance to the grocery store, Brooks said.
The stabbing comes on the heels of three gang-related attempted murders that occurred late last month and a heightened concern by law enforcement that gang violence is on the rise in Hollister.
While Brooks said there is nothing to show that the stabbing is related to the shootings – all of which involved 19-year-old Hispanic male victims who were shot with a shotgun on Central Avenue – Hollister Police Chief Jeff Miller said there has been a spike in gang violence within the region.
The police department has made combating gang violence its No. 1 priority over the past year, and is hoping to solicit as much community involvement as possible to curb it. Without that involvement, Miller has said the police department will be taxed to adequately attack the problem on its own.
Law enforcement and government officials formed a community gang task force last year made up of officials and residents alike in an attempt to stop further violence before it gets out of hand.
The task force will hold its fourth community meeting Wednesday to start implementing solutions that have been discussed at previous meetings. All residents are encouraged to attend the meeting Wednesday night.
Anyone with information about the stabbing or shootings should contact the Hollister Police Department at (831) 636-4330.
Erin Musgrave covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or [email protected]
