Thread: NV-Deadly shootings kill two at Reno area park

Deadly shootings kill two at Reno area park
Posted: June 11, 2008 06:35 AM PDT

Updated: June 11, 2008 06:46 AM PDT

Reno Police say about 6 officers are still guarding a southeast area park this morning after the deadly shootings last night.

On Tuesday evening, June 10, 2008, at approximately 6:07 pm, officers of the Reno Police Department responded to Miguel Ribera Park, 3925 Neil Road, on the report of a shooting

Three people were shot, two of them died and one is in critical condition. People who live in the neighborhood say the incident is gang-related and may be connected with the fight that broke out here last week.

Neighbors flooded out of their homes to watch in horror. Witnesses say at least 200 people were at the park when shots were fired including a young soccer team.

Police interviewed 15 witnesses. They say they see gang activity daily and think it will escalate.

Police officers say they specifically targeted this area to combat gang violence over the last few years.

Witnesses to the shooting have been interviewed by Reno Police Homicide Detectives and detectives of the Regional Gang Unit. As a result of these interviews a Juan Irad Jarred Marquez-DeSantiago has been identified as the shooter.

Arriving officers located a deceased male,16 years old, lying on the ground in the field west of the park grounds, between the park and US 395, the apparent victim of a shooting.

A second male shooting victim, 15 years old, was located in the park and transported to a local hospital.

A third male shooting victim, 17 years old, was located in the 900 block of Verbal Lane, one block east of the park. This victim was also transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. At this time the names of the deceased are being withheld pending notification of family.

The surviving victim has undergone emergency surgery for his injuries and is in critical condition.

Preliminary investigation indicates that two rival groups of male met in the 900 block of Verbal Lane and became involved in a verbal confrontation. During this altercation Marquez-DeSantiago produced a hand gun and began shooting, ultimately striking the three victims.

Initial responding Reno Police Patrol units located Marquez-DeSantiago in the 900 block of Verbal Lane. Marquez-DeSantiago was brought to the Reno Police Department where he was interviewed and subsequently arrested for two counts of Open Murder with the use of a deadly weapon and one count of Battery with a Deadly Weapon Causing Substantial Bodily Harm.

Marquez-DeSantiago, a 21 year of age Reno resident, is being held in the Washoe County Jail without bail.

Anyone who may have information relevant to this case is encouraged to contact the Reno Police Department Robbery/Homicide Unit at 334-2115 or Secret Witness at 322-4900.

http://www.krnv.com/global/story.asp?s=8462828

Police: Gang Fight Led to Miguel Ribera Park Murders

Posted: June 10, 2008 06:24 PM PDT

Updated: June 12, 2008 08:14 PM PDT

Police say gang violence is behind a shooting near a Reno park that left two teenagers dead and another clinging to life.

The alleged shooter, 21-year-old Juan Marquez-DeSantiago, was arrested Tuesday night and charged with two counts of open murder and battery with a deadly weapon. He was being held without bail.

Police say the violence erupted shortly after 6 p.m. Tuesday when the rival gangs met near Miguel Ribera Park in southeast Reno.

Investigators say according to witnesses, the teens were armed with bats. Marquez-DeSantiago had a semi-automatic pistol. "These individuals were not innocent bystanders in the area. They actually all congregated at this one particular area with the intention of having a fight," says Lt. Robert McDonald.

When officers arrived, they found 16-year-old Christian Humberto Barajas dead in a field west of the park.

Seventeen-year-old Jose Alonso Anguiano was found a block east and taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

A 15-year-old boy also was shot. He was taken to Renown Regional Medical Center, where he remains in critical condition. The Regional Gang Unit says he has serious internal damage.

The Regional Gang Unit won't discuss specific gang affiliation information because it glorifies the gang violence, giving the criminals what they want...attention.

If you have any information, you can call Secret Witness at 322-4900. Your call will remain anonymous.

In the meantime police say they'll try to keep the area safe with gang unit patrols. "They're going on 12-hour shifts as necessary until this incident cools down. They'll be talking to everybody in the neighborhood."

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

http://www.ktvn.com/Global/story.asp?S=8460992