5 arrested in connection with shooting along Santa Cruz's scenic West Cliff Drive
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KTVU) - Five suspects have been arrested in connection with a shooting on Santa Cruz's scenic West Cliff Drive.
According to the Santa Cruz Police Department, officers responded Saturday just before 6 p.m. to a report of a shooting at a parking lot on West Cliff Drive.
When officers arrived they found a 50-year-old Santa Cruz man with multiple lacerations to his head, including a grazing gunshot wound.
The man was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Witnesses were able to provide police with a vehicle description, license plate number and direction of travel of the suspect's vehicle. Shortly after the incident, officers located the vehicle headed southbound on Highway 1 at Chestnut Street.
Officers stopped the car in the Harvey West area and five suspects, between the ages of 18 to 23, were detained. The suspects were identified as Bryce Bertao, 19, of Watsonville, Juan Escobar, 21, of Castroville, Roberto Ramirez, 23, of Watsonville, De'maria Strong, 19, of Salinas and John Zarate, 22, of Freedom.
During the investigation police learned the victim was approached by all five suspects demanding his property. The victim was struck multiple times by all five suspects, according to police. During the altercation one of the suspects fired at the victim.
Police say some of the stolen property was located inside the suspect vehicle and returned to the property owner.