Man Wounded in Gang Related Shooting

Police believe he might have been singled-out

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville Police Department and the Santa Cruz County Task Force arrested a 20-year-old Watsonville resident, Edgar Ibarra, after an investigation led police to suspect him in a gang related shooting.

Edgar Ibarra

Watsonville Police have also obtained a warrant for the arrest of a second suspect 19-year-old Watsonville resident Alex Rugerio, who is wanted for his part in the May 3 shooting.  The amount of the warrant is for $750,000 dollars.

On May 3 at about 7:39 p.m., the Watsonville Police Department officers were dispatched to the corner of Sudden Street and East Lake Avenue on a report of shots fired.  Officers contacted several witnesses and learned that two suspects shot a man in the leg.  They both left the scene before the police arrived.

At about 7:56 p.m., the Watsonville Police Department received a call from Watsonville Community Hospital reporting that they were treating an adult male for a non-life threatening gunshot wound to the leg.

Alex Rugerio

Officers responded and took the victims statements as he was treated and later released from the hospital.  Police learned that the two male suspects confronted him and shot him before fleeing on foot.

“The victim of this shooting was specifically targeted, he is considered by other local gangs as a dropout,” Watsonville Police Sergeant Eric Taylor said. “He was lured to the back parking lot by the two suspects, then shot.”

The Watsonville Police, along with the Santa Cruz County Gang Task Force, are investigating this shooting as gang related.  They are asking anyone with information regarding this incident to contact the Watsonville Police Department Investigation Unit at 1-831-768-3352.

Read More:

Santa Cruz Sentinel: Warrant issued for second suspect in Watsonville shooting

Watsonville Patch: Watsonville Man Arrested in Gang Shooting