WATSONVILLE, Calif - Watsonville Police have determined a March murder in the city was the result of a fight.
On March 31st, around 11:00 p.m. officers found the Brandon Gil, dead in the middle of Brennan Street and East Lake Avenue with a single stab wound to his upper body.
Through interviews, video footage, and other evidence, detectives discovered Gil was inside the El Miramar Restaurant and Bar along with two others, Frank Garcia and Ricardo Flores. All had ties to a north criminal street gang. As Garcia went outside the restaurant to smoke a cigarrette, Gil and Flores confronted him. The men briefly exchanged words before Gil attacked Garcia with a knife.
Gil stabbed Garcia in the upper body, and Garcia fought back fatally stabbing Gil. Flores used a bottle to strike Garcia in the head before being stabbed himself.
Detectives learned that Gil and Flores confronted Garcia because of a prior assault that Garcia had been involved with another member of their gang. As a result of the assault Garcia was no longer accepted by the members of the gang
Watsonville Police Detectives spoke with Garcia several times during theinvestigation and his statements were reviewed by the Santa Cruz District Attorney's Office. The Santa Cruz District Attorney's Office has also reviewed the available evidence in this case. Based upon the review of evidence which included statements from Frank Garcia and Ricardo Flores the Santa Cruz County District Attorney's Office and the Watsonville Police Department are not recommending the filing of criminal charges at this time and we are in agreement that this was a case of self-defense.
