Ongoing Feud Leads To Murder On Mission Street

Three vehicles involved in rolling shootout

SANTA CRUZ—Authorities with the Santa Cruz Police Department have arrested three individuals for the homicide of 31-year-old Watsonville resident Alejandro Garcia Sanchez.  They have arrested  brother’s 22-year-old Marcus and 18-year-old Michael Bates of Aptos and 18-year-old Marisa Arroyo of Santa Cruz for his murder.

Michael Bates

On August 2, at 10:48 Santa Cruz County Dispatch received calls of shots fired near the 1800 and 2000 blocks of Mission Street in Santa Cruz.  Then they received a call that a vehicle that was involved in the shooting had veered into the parking lot of the Burger King at 2015 Mission Street and collided with parked cars.

Upon their arrival at the scene, emergency personnel located a male victim suffering from gunshots wounds.  They administered medical attention in an attempt to save the victims life but he died at the scene.  A preliminary investigation revealed that the victim was fatally shot in the course of the exchange of gunfire and not the result of the collision with the other vehicle.

Marcus Bates

Santa Cruz Police Detectives spent much of the night collecting evidence and have collect several items and include third party surveillance footages.  “We had half a dozen business come forward and share their video footage with us,” Deputy Chief Steve Clark said. “We are thankful to those businesses that shared their video footage. Their assistance was an integral part of our ability to solve this case so quickly.”

Detectives are investigating numerous leads in this case. One such lead is that there is an ongoing feud between the older Bates and Sanchez stemming from their involvement in rival gangs.  Both worked at the same Santa Cruz business and had a previous dispute in the workplace but the police were not called in that incident.

On Friday night, a confrontation occurred between the two parties as they happened upon each other traveling on Mission Street.  The confrontation turned to gunfire and shots were exchanged between the occupants as they traveled northbound on Mission Street.

“We have to stay on top of these cases because gang violence does not only reflect just in our city,” Deputy Chief Clark added. “It’s reflected in on all communities surrounding Santa Cruz whether it be Watsonville or Salinas.”

Marisa Arroyo

All three suspects have been arrested and booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail. Marcus Taylor Bates has been booked on charges of second-degree murder, participating in a criminal street gang and promoting a criminal street gang.  His bail has been set at $1,000,000.00.  His little brother Michael Clarence Bates faces charges of murder in the first degree, participating in a criminal street gang and promoting a criminal street gang.  His bail has been set at $750,000.  Their female accomplice Marisa Andrea Arroyo faces charges of second-degree murder, accessory to murder, participating and promoting a criminal street gang and destroying and concealing evidence.  Her bail has been set at $775,000.

Read More:

SJ Mercury News: ‘Rollin Battle’ on Mission Street Leads to Murder

Santa Cruz Sentinel: Santa Cruz Shootout Suspects Arraigned