SUNNYVALE, Calif – 20-year-old Ernesto Castro-Sanchez was shot and killed on Saturday, August 2 in the City of Sunnyvale. The Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety, which consists of police, fire and emergency medical teams, responded to a 9-1-1 call reporting a possible shooting at Encinal Park in the 400 block of Macara Avenue in the early morning hours just after 2:30 AM. Sanchez was located by Emergency Response Personal with a gunshot wound to his neck. Sanchez was non-responsive when officers arrived and was pronounced dead a short time later. A young woman was also injured during what police are calling a gang related attack. She is expected to make a full recovery from her injuries.
According to Captain Jeffrey Hunter of the Sunnyvale DPS, “This incident remains under investigation and no arrests have been made at this time”. They are asking if anyone who witnessed the shooting or who may have additional information please contact the department at 408-730-7110.
Despite the City’s first homicide of the year, Sunnyvale has a low crime rate as compared to other Bay Area cities. Misdemeanor assault, breaking and entering, and theft being the most common crimes Sunnyvale officers are called out to investigate. According to CrimeReports.com, from July 24 – Aug 7, 2014 there were 64 criminal reports in the City of Sunnyvale. Eight of those reports included misdemeanor assault charges with one assault with a deadly weapon. Within a week of the arrests reported in Sunnyvale, the City of San Jose reported 392 incidents, with 88 assaults recorded from July 27 – Aug 2, 2014.
