Police made one arrest in a Sunday shooting that involved three victims at a Chevron gas station during the Hollister Rally motorcycle event, while investigators suspect two rival “motorcycle clubs” were involved, the police chief reported Sunday afternoon.
The status remains unclear for three victims of gunshot wounds in a shooting that occurred Sunday morning at the Chevron gas station on San Felipe Road during the Hollister Rally. The incident was reported at 10:36 a.m. at 631 San Felipe Road near Highway 25 entering the city, said Police Chief David Westrick.
Police responded to the shooting on the third and final day of the Hollister Rally motorcycle event and found the three victims of gunshot wounds and another victim of assault. As of a 3 p.m. press briefing, the status of the victims remained unclear.
The police department had patrols – “beefed up” for the rally – in the area at the time of the shooting.
“The response was actually quite quick,” the chief said. “We actually had officers in the area at the time.”
He said police were questioning the suspect in the afternoon and they would transport him to the San Benito County Jail.
Westrick said it appeared the shooting involved visitors here for the rally – and added that investigators suspect members from two unspecified biker “clubs” were involved. The gas station is about a mile and a half from the rally event area in downtown Hollister.
Investigators believe a dispute Saturday night continued into Sunday when the two sides crossed paths at the gas station. The two rival clubs had a physical altercation Saturday in the event area, and one member was arrested on suspicion of possessing a dirk or dagger, according to a police statement released Sunday night.
Hollister Fire Department and ambulance responders treated the victims on scene and had them flown to a Bay Area hospital.
Police are continuing to work on solidifying leads.
“We do have some leads,” Westrick said early Sunday before revealing an arrest. “The suspect vehicles range from motorcycles to a truck with a trailer on it.”
Despite the shooting, Westrick sounded optimistic about rally safety.
“Downtown was a safe event,” he said. “This did not occur downtown.”
Westrick initially held off on commenting about the security risks involved with such an event. He was uncertain in the immediate aftermath of the incident about the location or number of gunshot wounds.
“I wouldn’t want to even discuss that at this time,” he said, “the reason being that we’re so early on in the investigation.”
The Hollister Rally is in its second year of a revival after a five-year hiatus due to concerns about once-escalating security costs, which have been reduced significantly in the past two years.
There were other violent crimes over the weekend, but Westrick said police would wait to provide information on those arrests and other incidents.
Anyone with information on the shooting should call Detective Matt Weiss at (831) 636-4330, extension 132 or the WeTip line at (800) 78-CRIME.
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