Gang Member Charged in Cinco De Mayo Shooting
A 13-year-old boy, described as an active gang member in the lower valley was charged in Yakima County Juvenile Court Thursday in connection with the gang related shooting of five people, including 4 children at the Cinco De Mayo Festival in Sunnyside earlier this month.
Police say Mendoza was shooting at another gang member
Authorities say Angel Mendoza was firing at another gang member at the festival when the shots injured an adult and five kids. 13-year-old Mendoza is charged with five counts of first-degree assault. Yakima County Prosecutor Joe Brusic says the teen was charged and will be tried in juvenile court. He's being held on $500,000 bail.
Hundreds of people were at the event, May 6 when police say Mendoza fired shots at another gang member in the crowd.
The bullets hit five people including 4 children
Bullets struck 5 people in the crowd. A court affidavit says a 35-year-old man was struck in the leg, a 12-year-old boy was hit in the lip and tongue, a 6-year-old girl was hit in the leg, and two boys, ages 16 and 14, were shot in the legs.
After the shooting officers took two juveniles into custody at the event and 5 others were detained at a home in the 600 block of Harrison Avenue in Sunnyside. While police found a gun inside the house the 7 juveniles were released to their parents. Police announced the arrest of the 13-year-old Angel Mendoza last week. Authorities set a pretrial hearing for June 8. Mendoza is set for trial on June 27.