Six jailed in gang shooting, more sought

Six people were jailed early Saturday morning after a gang-related shootout in East Carson City. Deputies were searching for two vehicles believed to have fled the scene of the early morning shooting at the corner of Menlo Drive and Lompa Lane.

Sheriff Ken Furlong said officers are attempting to locate a green Chrysler Sebring and 1989 white Chevy pickup truck reportedly seen fleeing the shooting behind 2710 Menlo Drive.

Officers received at least seven calls of reported gunfire about 1:30 a.m. Saturday. When deputies arrived, they found two trucks with windows blown out, one with the hood riddled with bullet holes.

According to Deputy Thomas McDonald, a group of gang members was "partying" in the rear parking lot of an apartment complex when rival gang members arrived and opened fire.

The shooters fled through the breezeway of the complex, and the first group returned fire, witnesses reported. There were no reported injuries.

About 30 shell casings littered the parking lot and front of the complex. Witnesses reported seeing a group of people flee into Apartment 44, which shares a parking lot with the Menlo complex, but has a Lompa Lane address, said Furlong.

Deputies then contacted the complex manager, Jose Diaz, 32, who said he had lost the master key and could not let deputies inside that apartment or his own.

After receiving a search warrant, the SWAT team blew the door off Apartment 44 and entered just after 5 a.m. While no one was found inside, about a gram of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia was recovered, said Furlong. Deputies are searching for the tenant.

Another officer knocked on Diaz's door and someone answered it, said Furlong. Diaz's wife Marina Marie Diaz, 26, was found inside along with several known gang members, said Furlong. She was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor obstructing.

Also arrested were Rene Garcia-Montez, 18, on a misdemeanor Sparks warrant for failure to appear on a traffic citation; Alex Solis, 28, on suspicion of gross misdemeanor possession of a switchblade; Joseph Guadalupe Lopez, 19, on suspicion of trafficking methamphetamine, possession of controlled substance for sale, and possession of drug paraphernalia; and Jacqueline Romero Magana, 18, on suspicion of trafficking methamphetamine, possession of controlled substance for sale, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jose Diaz was arrested on suspicion of obstructing a peace officer, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. According to police, methamphetamine and marijuana were allegedly found in the Diaz home.

"We believe that the people who are in custody right now were residents there and the rival gang came in to attack them and they shot back," said Furlong. "This is the most significant gang-on-gang event in Carson City in the last 24 months."

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information can call Carson City Sheriff's non-emergency dispatch at 887-2007 or make an anonymous tip to Secret Witness at 322-4900. Secret Witness pays up to $2,500 for tips leading to the arrest and conviction of people committing crimes.