Hate-crime suspect in custody after standoff

SIGNONSANDIEGO NEWS SERVICES

12:29 p.m. May 3, 2007

HEMET – A Latino gang associate accused of a hate crime and attempted murder in the shooting of a 15-year-old African-American boy was in custody Thursday following a four-hour standoff with police, authorities said.

Jose Chavez, 20, of Hemet, is suspected of shooting the boy four times in the torso Saturday in front of an apartment home in the 1900 block of West Acacia Avenue, said Hemet police Lt. Jeff Pinney. The boy is expected to recover.

Investigators believe Chavez shot the boy and that three other people were involved in the attack, Pinney said.

Chavez surrendered to police surrounding a home in the 300 block of Elmwood Avenue about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, said Hemet police Lt. Jeff Pinney.

An informant gave investigators Chavez's mother's work phone number, and when they called, “the mother was evasive,” but her behavior led them to believe that the suspect was in his home, Pinney said.

After waiting for four hours for Chavez to come out, police were about to throw tear gas into the home when the suspect called out the window and offered to surrender, Pinney said.

Chavez was booked into the Southwest Detention Center on suspicion of attempted murder and committing a hate crime.

He is a known gang associate, Pinney said.

“We haven't figured out exactly what the motive is,” he said.

Chavez was behind bars on no bail, pending arraignment tomorrow at the Southwest Justice Center.

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