An adult male was stabbed to death outside Agua Azul Bar early Monday morning, according to the Hollister Police Department.
The homicide was reported around 2 a.m. at the East Street bar in Hollister. Police responded to the initial report of a traffic wreck involving a pedestrian and found two victims nearby – one from the collision and another from stab wounds to the torso area, said Hollister Police Chief David Westrick.
Police identified the stabbing homicide victim as Michael Cortez, 27, from Hollister. The man injured from the crash was Eduardo Cadeno, 26, of Hollister.
It appears as though after the collision involving a gray truck hitting an adult male, another adult male went to assist the victim, Westrick said, when someone left the vehicle to attack him.
Police believe the two victims were in the area together and that the attacks were “gang-motivated” crimes.
“Somebody from that vehicle went to attack that individual,” Westrick said.
Police do not know how many people may have been in the gray truck, but they believe there were likely multiple suspects.
Emergency responders airlifted both victims to a Bay Area hospital.
The stabbing victim died from his injuries at the hospital. It was Hollister’s third homicide of 2013.
Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to call Detective Sgt. Dan Winn at (831) 636-4330, ext. 126. Those wishing to remain anonymous may call WeTip at (800) 78-CRIME. Information provided to WeTip may qualify for a reward.
