Suspect Was Another Teen
SANTA CRUZ—Investigators with the Santa Cruz Police Department along with investigators from the Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office have made an arrest in the shooting death of a Watsonville teen in Santa Cruz. They arrested a 16-year-old gang member from Santa Cruz for the death.
On Monday June 16, Santa Cruz police officers responded to a report of a person suffering from a gunshot wound in an apartment on Center Street. The call came from a neighboring apartment in the complex. The complex is directly across the street from the police station.
When police arrived they found a 15-year-old teen in the bedroom of the apartment struck by an apparent single gunshot. The teen was a resident of Watsonville who was visiting the apartment, later identified by KSBW news as Hugo Rodas.
Officers secured the scene as well as the surrounding neighborhood. They located the apparent weapon used in the murder outside the apartment complex, where they recovered a handgun that was stolen from an auto burglary reported to the Santa Cruz Police Department back in May. It is unknown as to how the weapon came to be in the apartment.
There were several people inside the apartment at the time of the shooting. All witnesses were taken to the police department for questioning. Arrangements were also made for those occupants of the apartment that were displaced due to the investigation. Investigators are still investigating this case as a homicide and have not yet developed a motive for the shooting.
“Our officers who initially responded to the incident attempted life saving measures for the victim.” Santa Cruz Police Department Deputy Chief Steve Clark wrote in a press release, “In spite of their efforts the victim died of his injuries.”
A few hours after the shooting, investigators developed leads that led them to a 16-year-old Santa Cruz area gang member as the principle interest in the incident. The suspect was arrested and booked into the Santa Cruz Count Juvenile Hall on involuntary manslaughter charges.
Investigators are still investigating this incident and are still interviewing witnesses they are asking if anyone has information on this case to call the Santa Cruz Police Department at 1-831-420-5820.
Read More:
KSBW: Santa Cruz teen, 16, arrested in Center street fatal shooting
Santa Cruz Patch: Boy, 16, Arrested in Monday’s Shooting Death of 15-Year-Old in Santa Cruz Apartment
