Madera police say they're seeing a surge in gang violence; Police have linked two shootings in the past two days to rival gangs.
Gangs are leaving their mark all over Madera. “When they fire their weapons, innocent people can get hit,” says Sgt. Dino Lawson of the Madera Police Department. Numerous people have been hit; police say it's gang on gang violence.
“It just went ‘whompf’,” says a neighbor who saw Monday night’s chase end with a car smashing into a home near Fourth and K Street in Madera. Police and neighbors say it started with shots fired on Santa Cruz. “It was just a pop, pop, pop,” says a woman on Santa Cruz who heard the shots. “We first heard the popping sound then the people got up and were arguing.”
Police showed up and a black Mercedes took off; it was a chase that started and ended a few blocks away. The car stopped when it went up the curb and smashed into a house. “The front of the car started up in flames and it started to leap up, rising almost to the roof,” says a neighbor.
Police say the driver, Jorge Velasquez Mina, was injured by the shot's on Santa Cruz; he was hit in the hip. He was taken to the hospital and is under arrest. Police say they found a gun inside the car he was driving. Two others involved were also arrested—Antonio Ruiz and a juvenile. “What we're experiencing is retaliation from one side to the other,” says Sgt. Lawson.
Police say Monday's violence was sparked by a gang related shooting at the Arco on Saturday; it was caught on video. Witnesses say there was an argument and then the shooter—dressed in a black hoodie—fired rounds into the car. The victim was hit in the stomach but survived. Police are still looking for the man in the hoodie.
“We need to get involved right away and send a message to the gangs we're not going to tolerate this,” says Sgt. Lawson.
Those who were arrested are facing numerous charges including interfering with an officer and criminal gang activity.
Christina Lusby Reporting.
TXT 24
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