Trio Arrested After Suspect Allegedly Fires Gun Into Air

SANTA CRUZ, CA — Three people were arrested after an 18-year-old man allegedly fired a gun into the air early Tuesday morning in Santa Cruz, police said. Police responded to shots heard in the 1000 block of Ocean Street at 1:38 a.m. Witnesses told police that a man who appeared to be concealing a weapon ran into a motel room with several people after the shooting happened.

Police went to the room and detained two men and two women. They also located an 18-month-old child asleep in the room, according to police. A search of the room allegedly produced a 9 mm handgun and a Glock
.40-caliber pistol, which matched shell casings found near the motel.

Daniel Estrada, 18, from Los Banos, was arrested on suspicion of willful discharge of a firearm negligently, carrying an unregistered loaded handgun and child cruelty. Police said there were no signs that Estrada was shooting at a victim or an object.

Jorge Ayala Fernandez and Samantha Garcia, two 20-year-olds from Los Banos, were also arrested. Garcia was arrested on suspicion of public intoxication. Fernandez was arrested on suspicion of being on felony probation and having a gun. Fernandez is the father of the baby, police said, and the baby is now in the mother's custody.

By Bay City News

Photo via Renee Schiavone/ Patch