Union City teen arrested in slaying

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Mar 5, 2008 | by Matthew Artz

UNION CITY -- A 16-year-old Union City boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with shootings that killed a Hayward man and wounded another outside Kennedy Park on Friday, police said.

Police would not release the name of the teen, who was taken to Alameda County Juvenile Justice Center in San Leandro, where he is expected to face charges of murder and participation in a criminal street gang, Lt. Tom Haselton said.

Officers arrested the teen during a traffic stop at Whipple Road and Sixth Street at 4:15 p.m. Monday, Haselton said.

The victims were sitting in a car in the parking lot of the park about 6:10 p.m. Friday when several males approached them on foot and opened fire, police said.

Police now estimate that four to six males approached the car in what Haselton described as a gang-related robbery.

"They were basically going to rip these guys off and in the process there were some statements made consistent with gang members," Haselton said.

The two victims were not gang members, he added.

"They were a couple of guys hanging out at the park," he said.

Juan Carlos Gomez, 24, was pronounced dead at the scene from at least one gunshot wound, Haselton said. Daniel Donate, 20, was listed in fair condition after suffering two gunshot wounds.

In an effort to escape, Gomez hopped the curb and drove through the park before crashing into several parked cars on 12th Street.

The arrest of a 16-year-old in connection with the killing reinforces concerns that the city is struggling to quell youth violence.

Under pressure from a recently formed citizens' group, the City Council last week agreed to transfer its youth intervention unit from the police department to Leisure Services.

The council also voted to include$500,000 a year from a proposed parcel tax increase on the June ballot for youth violence prevention programs.

Gomez's death was the city's first slaying since 14-year-old Vernon Eddins was fatally shot

Dec. 21 outside Barnard-White Middle School.

Two of Union City's four other homicides in 2007 involved youths.

Logan High School graduate Binian Yifru, 17, was fatally shot outside a graduation party. A 17-year-old boy has been charged in that death.

Jesus Cruz Jr. was fatally shot Nov. 14 as he celebrated his 21st birthday outside a friend's home. No arrests have been made in that case.

Staff writer Matthew Artz can be reached at 510-353-7002 or martz@bayareanewsgroup.com. For more local news, go to the Tri-City Beat Blog at http://www.ibabuzz.com/tricitybeat.>

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