Three suspects arrested in San Leandro murder
July 6, 2016
On June 29 Alameda County District Attorney’s Office announced the arrests of three suspects in the May 15 shooting death of Dariel Arreola.
Arreola was shot at the Senior Community Center at 13909 E. 14th St. while outside of a first communion celebration he was attending.
San Leandro Police Department Lieutenant Robert McManus stated that around 7:30 p.m., Arreola walked outside when somebody opened fire on him from a vehicle. McManus confirmed Arreola was an intended target since there were other adults and children outside, and he was the only victim. According to court documents from the SLPD, Arreola was hit seven times in the head and body.
SLPD also confirmed that the incident was a direct result of a rivalry between two Norteño gangs, Decoto XIV from Union City and the Hoggs from South Hayward. Arreola was a member of the Hoggs and the three suspects are members of the Decoto XIV gang.
The records identified two of the three suspects as Norberto Villarreal, 25, and Gabriel Martinez, 18, who was 17 at the time of the murder. The third suspect was not named because he is a 14-year-old minor.
Witnesses and DNA evidence identified Villarreal and Martinez, however the specific DNA identified was not released. When officers arrived at the scene, they found multiple vehicles crashed near E. 14th Street & 138th Avenue, according to the San Leandro Police Department.
The occupants of the vehicle, a minivan, fled on foot. According to the court records, a gun was found with a partially empty clip and it was sent to a crime lab for testing. On June 15, Villarreal’s DNA was found on the gun.
Villarreal was arrested at his residence in San Jose and he is also a suspect in another shooting that resulted from the Hoggs, Decoto XIV feud. On Dec. 30, Villarreal allegedly suspected to involve the same feud between the Decoto XIV and the Hoggs. Hayward police officer Sheryl Mitchell filed court documents that allege Villarreal saw a Hoggs gang member who was in a vehicle with his girlfriend and 1-year-old child when fired at the vehicle.
The Alameda County District Attorney’s office charged Villarreal with attempted murder and shooting at an occupied vehicle.
