DAVIS—Five suspects have been arrested in connection with the stabbing death of a Southern California man in Davis on September 19. A sixth suspect remains at large.
Police arrested Zackary Sandeno, 21 and Martyn Alex Contreras, 25, on September 19. Both appeared in Yolo County Court on September 23, but the hearings were delayed until October 5. They are being held without bail.
Carlos Biviescas, 24, was arrested on September 26, and Victor Manuel Acosta Vergara, 22, the day before on September 25. Anthony Rivera, 25 was the fifth suspect arrested. All five arrested are reportedly Norteño gang members.
Joseph Sandeno, 20, also a suspect in the case, is still being sought by police.
Peter Gonzales, 23, of Hacienda Heights, was killed after a fight broke out about 1:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 19 outside the KetMoRee Restaurant at Third and G Streets in Davis. He had been in Davis for his sister’s wedding.
The deadly confrontation occurred at the KetMoRee restaurant in Davis.
Gonzales and some other members of the bridal party had just finished with the wedding rehearsal and dinner when they decided to go to KetMoRee Thai Restaurant and Bar. According to the family, there was a confrontation, and Gonzales jumped in to help his brothers. Gonzales was stabbed in an artery.
“By the time (the fight) stopped, he was standing there,” said Gonzales’ father, Henry Gonzales in an interview with KCRA News. “He dropped to the floor. So they immediately looked him over, opened his shirt and saw that he had a wound.”
Gonzales’ brothers put pressure on his stab wound and tried giving him CPR. He was taken to UC Davis Medical Center where he died from his injuries.
The next day, the family had to put their grief on hold as they prepared for their daughter’s wedding and the arrival of 200 guests. “We decided to go on with the wedding and sort of delay our grief,” said Henry Gonzales. “It was difficult for us, but we were able to do it, and my daughter had a great, fantastic wedding even though all of this happened.”
Gonzales worked with autistic children and was a basketball and cross-country coach. He was working on his degree to become a special needs teacher.
The young men charged in this crime have all had past incidents with law enforcement. According to available records, Zackary Saldeno was arrested in July of 2012 for assault with a deadly weapon and street terrorism. Four months later he was charged with vandalism of more than $5,000 damage, resisting arrest, and battery on an officer. In February of 2013 he was arrested for disorderly conduct – public intoxication, and in April for vehicle theft and committing a felony while released on bail.
Saldeno was then arrested in October of 2013 for street terrorism. The next month he was picked up for vandalism of less than $400 damage, and in February of 2014 he was sentenced in Solano County court for that charge, along with battery with serious injury. He and his brother Joseph were together in August of 2014 when he was charged with driving under the influence and violating his probation. Joseph was charged with being under the influence of a controlled substance and resisting arrest.
In July of 2009, Martyn Contreras was arrested for disturbing the peace by fighting, possession of marijuana and having an open container while driving, along with failure to appear in court on an earlier charge. In October of 2013 he was charged with carrying a concealed, loaded weapon, and committing a felony while out on bail. In May of 2014 he was charged with resisting or obstructing an officer. And just last month, on August 23, he was arrested for hit and run causing property damage, driving under the influence, and violating probation.
Carlos Biviescas was charged in August of 2009 with public intoxication and violating his probation. In April for 2010 he was arrested for vandalism and criminal conspiracy. In January of 2011 he was arrested for assault, street terrorism, vandalism and conspiracy. In September of that year he was charged with disorderly conduct – public intoxication, resisting arrest, possession of a switch-blade knife, and violating probation. Three months later he was arrested for assault likely to cause great bodily injury, and violating the terms of his post-release supervision. Then in December of 2013 he was arrested for pubic intoxication and post-release violations. He was arrested in March of 2014 for possession and sales of a controlled substance, along with another post-release violation.
Records show that Victor Vergara was arrested in December 2011 for possessing a switch blade knife, in February of 2014 for possession and transportation of controlled substances for sale, and in May of this year for drug possession. No verifiable records were found for Anthony Rivera.
Anyone with information about Joseph Sandeno’s location is urged to call the Davis police at (530) 747-5400.
Read More: KCRA News
CrimeVoice staff contributed to this report
