Crime & Safety

Update: Names Released of Suspects Arrested Last Week

Three alleged gang members were arrested July 1 in connection with the fatal shooting of Juan Carlos Gomez at Kennedy Park in 2008

Police on Wednesday identified three alleged gang members of 28-year-old Hayward resident Juan Carlos Gomez.

On July 1, Union City police, assisted by the Southern Alameda County Major Crimes Task Force as well as Fremont and Newark police and SWAT units, served a series of arrest and search warrants at multiple homes in Union City.

Authorities apprehended Union City residents Noel Cruz, 19; Joel Perry, Jr., 19; and Damian Alaniz, 18. All three were arrested on suspicion of murder, assault with a deadly weapon, robbery and participation in a criminal street gang.

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The men were scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday at the Fremont Hall of Justice.

The names of the suspects were not released immediately so as not to jeopardize the investigation, said Ben Horner of the Union City Police Department. At the time, additional suspects were believed to be at large, he said.

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Police also detained two additional suspects, one of whom was not charged and another who was arrested for an unrelated crime, Horner said.

During the sweep, Union City-Newark joint SWAT units, along with unmarked vehicles as well as Fremont and Union City police squad cars, were seen storming various homes throughout Decoto starting as early as 7:30 a.m.

Authorities served warrants at homes on the 33500 block of Seventh Street, the 33200 block of Fourth Street, the 33300 block of Ninth Street and the 32300 block of Crest Lane.

Last Friday's arrests were a result of witnesses finally coming forward and new forensic evidence, the details of which could not be released, Horner said.

According to Horner, Gomez was shot and killed during a robbery on Feb 29, 2008.

Police responded to reports of shots fired at Kennedy Park at 6:11 p.m. where responding officers located a vehicle with Gomez and another adult male inside suffering from life-threatening gunshots wounds.

Gomez was pronounced dead at the scene while the other was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

The suspects were overheard using Norteno gang slogans during the shooting, Horner said.


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