Attempted murder suspect free before trial
A Williams man charged with trying to run down two alleged rival gang members with his car in November waived his preliminary hearing Thursday and was released from jail with a promise to appear in Colusa County Superior Court in February.
Gayro Velazquez, 21, has pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon, and one felony count of street terrorism, as well as enhancements for causing great bodily injury and violent felony street terrorism.
Colusa County prosecutors contend Velazquez, reportedly a member of the Sureño criminal street gang, deliberately ran over Felix Silva, 19, and tried to run down Jesus Chavez, 31, both of Colusa and both reportedly members of the rival Norteño gang.
The charges stem from a Nov. 9 incident at a wedding party at the Colusa County Fairgrounds, where an argument of over a woman may have triggered the matter.
Witnesses told police that Velazquez was sitting inside his vehicle when he was reportedly punched by Silva and Chavez. Police were dispatched to a reported fight involving up to 20 people.
When uniformed security arrived on scene, Chavez and Silva fled on foot and Velazquez reportedly gave chase in his car, striking Silva and narrowly missing Chavez, the California Highway Patrol reported.
Velazquez’s attorney, Roberto Marquez, asked that the Probation Department to prepare a pre-plea report on a single charge of assault with a deadly weapon as well as one enhancement charging “street terrorism.”
Judge John H. Tiernan released Velazquez after Marquez argued that he was neither a flight risk or a danger to the community.
Tiernan released Velazquez over mild protests from the Deputy District Attorney Philip Rennick who said gang-related issues always add an element of danger.
“I don’t see assaultive acts as part of (Velazquez’s) background,” Tiernan said, “and I have no belief that Mr. Velazquez would be going after the people he’s accused of committing offenses against.”
Velazquez was ordered to appear in court on Feb. 3 for a pre-trial conference.
