Watsonville police have identified a 4-year-old girl and 33-year-old man who were killed and another man who was wounded in a shooting late Friday at a restaurant and motel in central Watsonville.
The girl was Jaelyn Zavala and the man who died was Ramon Rendon, both of Watsonville, Watsonville Police Lt. Jorge Zamora announced Monday. The wounded man is 26-year-old Emanuel Hernandez, who was hospitalized with injuries not considered life-threatening.
All three of the victims were struck by bullets fired during a fight involving multiple people late Friday at the Fish House Bar and Grill at 972 Main St. and Valley Inn Motel at 970 Main St. in Watsonville, police Chief Manny Solano said.
Police found Jaelyn and Hernandez inside the restaurant and discovered Rendon sprawled on the ground outside the motel, police said.
Watsonville police and officers with the Santa Cruz County Gang Task Force answered a report at 11:55 p.m. Friday about people fighting at the restaurant with a weapon involved, according to police.
Officers arrived and heard a number of gunshots and saw several people run from a chaotic scene where the girl and the two men lay with gunshot wounds, police said.
Jaelyn and Hernandez appeared to have been shot while caught in the crossfire in the back office of the restaurant, police said.
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The wounded girl was transported to Watsonville Community Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, Solano said. Rendon died at the scene, according to police.
Two suspects, men ages 31 and 20, tried to run from the scene but after a lengthy chase, officers caught them and arrested both on suspicion of murder, police said.
Police have not yet officially released the names of the suspects or what they believe was the motive in the shooting.
