Hollister Police Arrest 5 in Gang Related Shootings Throughout t - Central Coast News KION/KCBA

HOLLISTER, Calif- The Hollister Police Department is investigating a series of shootings that have occurred over the past two days and appear to be gang-related.

News Release From Hollister Police

On Friday, July 13th, at about 3:00 AM, officers responded to a report of shots fired into an apartment at 1501 Memorial Drive. No one was injured, but officers discovered a bullet had been fired through the front window of the apartment. A large rock also had been thrown through a window. No witnesses were located.

On Friday evening, at about 6:40 PM, officers responded to a report of several males fighting in the street at the intersection of Hawkins and Prune streets. Officers were told this involved gang members and two shots had been fired. The involved parties had all fled by the time the responding officers arrived. No witnesses were located to the incident and no evidence of a shooting was located.

On Saturday morning, July 14th, a resident in the 600 block of Powell Street reported someone fired a shotgun into her home sometime over the night. No one was injured, and the victim was unable to provide officers with any leads.

Also on Saturday, a resident on Prune Street reported her home was also shot with a shotgun over the previous night. Again, no one was injured, but officers learned this may have involved some type of retaliation for the Friday evening fight.

On Saturday afternoon, a resident on Hawkins Street reported finding a bullet hole in his vehicle. He believed this occurred when someone fired shots during the Friday evening gang fight. This victim appears to be an unintended target.

On Saturday evening, at approximately 7:00 PM, officers responded back to the same area of Prune Street from the previous evening to a report of a suspicious vehicle driving in the area. Officer Matt Weiss responded and located the vehicle in question, a gray Nissan Maxima occupied by five males. When Officer Weiss attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver sped off at high speeds attempting to elude the officer. The driver abruptly pulled over and stopped in the 1200 block of Sally Street. Two of the passengers fled on foot from the vehicle and were apprehended a few blocks away by a responding San Benito County Sheriff's deputy and another Hollister Police officer. They were identified as Edgar Lopez (21) and Omar Quezada-Perez (20), both of Hollister. They were both booked for resisting arrest.

The driver of the Nissan, Eduardo Cadena (25) of Hollister, was arrested for felony evading in a vehicle, driving under the influence of alcohol, and an outstanding warrant for driving under the influence of alcohol. The remaining two passengers were interviewed, photographed, and released at the scene.

A few minutes later, officers were dispatched to a report of a suspicious gold Chevrolet Suburban in the area of Sunnyslope Road and Airline Hwy. The driver and front passenger wore red bandannas over their faces and simulated having a gun. As officers were checking the area, an incident was reported at the Cinderella Motel for a possible kidnapping in progress involving a gold Chevrolet Suburban and men with red bandannas on their faces. Arriving officers detained Alfonso Contreras (18) and Michael Cortez (26) of Hollister. After making contact with the victim the report of kidnapping was unsubstantiated. It was discovered a third male had fled via one of the room's bathroom windows when officers arrived. This person has not yet been identified, but officers are pursuing leads.

As officers were investigating the incident at the Cinderella Motel, another incident was reported at the Hi Outlet Store at 550 Tres Pinos Rd. The reporting party said a man ran into the business wearing a bandanna over his face, stole some merchandise, and then ran to a waiting gold Chevrolet Suburban occupied by two other males. This incident occurred just prior to the Cinderella Motel incident. The suspect in this case matches the description of the unidentified person who fled out the window of the Cinderella Motel. Contreras and Cortez were both identified as the two occupants of the getaway vehicle, with Contreras as the driver. Contreras and Cortez were arrested and booked for being accessories to burglary.

The investigation is in its preliminary stage, however it appears all of these incidents are gang related.

Anyone with information regarding these incidents is requested to contact Detective Sergeant Dan Winn or Officer Carlos Rodriguez at 636-4330. Persons wishing to remain anonymous may call WeTip at (800) 78-CRIME. Information provided to WeTip may qualify for a reward.