Sep 5, 2008

Gang member arrested

Teen suspect allegeldy shot relative over rivalry in East Palo Alto

By Banks Albach / Daily News Staff Writer

East Palo Alto police arrested a 16-year-old gang member Wednesday night in Oakland suspected of shooting a relative at a family party because of his past membership in a rival gang.

Prosecutors are planning to charge Eric Zamora as an adult on one count of attempted murder with a firearm enhancement, said San Mateo County Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe. Zamora is being held without bail and is set to be arraigned at 1:30 p.m. today in Superior Court.

The victim - a 22-year-old Vancouver, Wash., resident who is married to Zamora's first cousin - was shot three times but is back on his feet after spending several days at Stanford University Medical Center, said Detective Dave Carson.

Zamora and the victim got into an argument at a family party last Friday on the 2200 block of Euclid Avenue. Police believe that Zamora, a known member of the Hispanic Sureno gang, began questioning the victim about his past as a member in the rival Norteno gang. Carson said the victim confirmed it, but told Zamora his gang days were over and that they "were family now," according to police.

Whether out of loyalty to his own gang or disbelief that the victim had actually left the Nortenos, Zamora drew a handgun and shot the victim three times at close range, witnesses told police. Police responded to reports of gunfire at about 11 p.m. and emergency personnel later transported the victim to Stanford.

Carson said the victim's family cooperated with police after the shooting, and he dug up several addresses for Zamora - a handful in East Palo Alto, one in Stockton and one in Oakland. Along with two San Mateo County probation officers, Carson and another East Palo Alto detective located Zamora in Oakland at his uncle's house at about 9 p.m. Wednesday. They arrested him without incident, Carson said.

Anyone with additional information, or who may have witnessed the shooting, is asked to call Detective Dave Carson at 650-853-3131, or the anonymous tip line at 650-853-8477.

E-mail Banks Albach at balbach@dailynewsgroup.com.