Photo: Jose Paz-Leja
BERKELEY — A house painter suspected of belonging to a criminal gang has been arrested for allegedly shooting at a vehicle. Jose E. Pazleja, 29 of Berkeley, remains in custody in county jail in lieu of $265,000 bond.
Pazleja was arrested March 18 for a shooting which occurred March 4 on Sacramento Street, near his residence. It was shortly after 9 p.m. when Pazleja allegedly ran after and fired shots at a moving vehicle.
This shooting was recorded by multiple neighbors’ security cameras, and fortunately no one was reported injured. Pazleja is also suspected of being involved in prior shooting incidents in the same South Berkeley neighborhood.
A Berkeley PD special response team assisted detectives and surrounded Pazleja’s home at 7 a.m. He was arrested on a warrant and subsequently booked into Santa Rita Jail at 11:27 a.m.
Detectives also searched his residence for evidence linked to the crime. On March 19, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office filed three felony charges against Pazleja.
Shooting at an occupied motor vehicle
Use of a deadly weapon
Possession of a firearm by a felon
Suspected of participating in gang activity for many years, Pazleja has been arrested 17 times since 2013. His rap sheet includes numerous arrests for street terrorism, weapons possession, DUI alcohol/drugs, among other offenses.
Pazleja has prior firearms-related convictions, which resulted in jail time and probation. His next scheduled court appearance is April 20.
