The Hells Angel member charged with murdering a fellow gang member was severely beaten prior to the shooting, according to court documents.
Steve Ruiz is charged with homicide in the death of Hells Angel Steve Tausan.
In a court filing, San Jose police report that Ruiz was severely beaten before the shooting, which happened during the October funeral of slain San Jose chapter Hells Angels president Jeff "Jethro" Pettigrew, according to the Mercury News..
The report claims that two people, one of them Steve Tausan, punched and kicked Ruiz before he pulled out a gun and allegedly shot Tausan.
The police report uses the testimony of two unnamed witnesses and video surveillance from the cemetery.
All three sources reveal that Ruiz was fighting with an unidentified man who punched Ruiz and knocked him to the ground-- then kicked Ruiz as he lay there.
That's when Tausan stepped in-- punching Ruiz twice.
Local
As Tausan stood over him, the report states that Ruiz "made a movement on the ground and appeared to be reaching into his vest." Moments later Tausan was seen doubled over.
Ruiz managed to flee the scene and had been on the run until police tracked him to a Days Inn Motel in Fremont on Saturday, Feb. 25.
Ruiz was charged Wednesday with homicide. He did not enter a plea. His next court date is scheduled for March 15.
