Suspected Gang Members Charged with Murdering High School Student
Kristhiam Uceda and Bryan Sermeno-Chachagua
CONCORD – Police have arrested several suspected gang members believed responsible for the fatal shooting of a high school student on November 6, and a separate shooting incident that wounded another victim in October.
Several juvenile males whose identities were not released were arrested November 17 by detectives, assisted by officers from a Concord SWAT team and patrol officers. They were booked at Contra Costa County Juvenile Hall.
On November 6, two adult suspects were taken into custody — 20-year-old Kristhiam Uceda and 18-year-old Bryan Sermeno-Chachagua, who remain at the Martinez Detention Facility in lieu of $2 million and $1,030,000 bail, respectively.
Uceda and Chachagua are both charged with murdering 17-year-old Lawrence Janson on November 6, outside Olympic Continuation High School at 2730 Salvio Street.
Additional evidence was uncovered by detectives several weeks after Janson’s murder, including evidence related to an earlier shooting incident that happened October 13 near Ellis Street and Clayton Road, where a female victim was wounded in her leg.
The new evidence led the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office to charge a total five persons for the murder of Janson, including Uceda who wasn’t initially accused murder when he and Chachagua were arrested on November 6.
Uceda also faces new charges of attempted murder for the separate October 13 shooting incident.
Police believe Uceda, Chachagua, and the minors who’ve been arrested are associated with a gang — so they’re all charged with criminal gang activities.
