Balam Gonzalez booking photo
SAN JOSE — Police have reported a shooting in the 400 block of East William Street, near South 10th, at approximately 11 PM on April 7. The report comes on the heels of an arrest made in connection to a second and possibly third shooting incident over the course of a year.
20-year-old Balam Eugenio Gonzalez had been arrested back in November 2013, when it was discovered that he had shot 18-year-old Pedro Dado Cortez near Peter Pan Avenue adjacent to Capitol Park. Now, three years later, new evidence has appeared which may connect Gonzalez to yet another shooting death.
According to police, the Santa Clara County DA’s office filed murder charges against Gonzalez on April 4th for the 2012 murder of Armondo Heredia. Heredia is said to have died by Gonzalez’s gun during a drive-by shooting on August 23rd, 2012, in the area of King Road and Burdette Drive.
The motive, allegedly, had been gang recognition.
Gonzales is also suspected to have taken part in another drive-by shooting in the 200 block of San Jose Avenue, just five days prior to the one that killed Heredia, in which the victim ultimately survived.
Heredia’s killing was tied up for several years as Sgt. John Barg and others worked to identify a suspect.
