VENTURA COUNTY — Simi Valley’s Rancho Community Park was the scene of a violent gang fight during daylight hours of February 27th when, according to Simi Valley Police Department’s Sgt. Darin Muehler’s report to the media, a pair of suspected area gang members aged 41 and 19 were “approached by four suspected rival gang members.”
Those four –as if superior numbers weren’t enough—were each armed with knives which they apparently used to great effect.
By the time the four attackers fled the scene, 19-year-old Tristen Krieger was left with “severe life-threatening” injuries.
Simi Valley Patrol Officers responding to the scene called for immediate medical assistance, and Krieger was transported to Simi Valley Hospital where he remains in critical condition. His companion was also hospitalized and is in stable condition.
The ensuing investigation, based upon witness reports of the vehicle in which the assailants fled the scene, led detectives to the discovery of a white pickup truck and the identification of Alonso Castaneda, a 20-year-old resident of Simi Valley.
Authorities then found Castaneda at his home, where he was taken into custody. Castaneda was promptly transported to Ventura County Jail, where he was booked on charges of attempted murder and committing a crime for the benefit of a street gang.
No identification has yet been made of the other three men involved in the attack. Anyone with information about the circumstances of the attack or about the identification of those involved, are urged to contact Simi Valley Police Detectives at (805) 583-6972.
