SANTA CRUZ, Calif. - Santa Cruz Police are investigating the city's first homicide of 2013 after a 32-year-old was shot dead outside the Red Room Bar early Saturday morning.
At approximately 12:30 a.m., Santa Cruz Police officers responded to the shooting in the 200 block of Locust Street. Officers arrived to find the victim, Pauly Silva of Santa Cruz, dead from several gunshot wounds.
There were several witnesses in the area as the incident occurred just outside the Locust Street entrance to the Red Room Bar. Witnesses described a possible suspect vehicle as a green or grey 90's model Mercedes.
With the vehicle description, Santa Cruz Police initiated "Project R.O.P.E." (Project R.O.P.E. is a multi-agency cooperative where likely travel and escape routes are monitored by law enforcement in Santa Cruz County). A vehicle matching the description of the suspect car was stopped by Watsonville Police near Green Valley Road. Two occupants of the car were held for questioning.
Both are known Norteno gang members and were arrested for separate charges not associated with the homicide. Detectives are still working to determine their placement at the scene and any involvement. Meanwhile, they are in custody on charges related to probation violation and being a felon in possession of ammunition, and resisting arrest.
Early this morning, detectives arrested a third person of interest in the course of their investigation. He was arrested in the city of Santa Cruz on outstanding warrants. The identity of these individuals is being withheld until detectives have an opportunity to solidify any role they may have had in the shooting.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Santa Cruz Police Department Investigations unit at (831) 420-5815.
