(Agents from the Department of Justice scour the 100 block of Lawrence Avenue in Watsonville Sunday where a man was shot and killed Saturday night in an alleged botched drug heist. Photo by Tarmo Hannula/Pajaronian)
WATSONVILLE — A Watsonville man was shot and killed Saturday night in what a witness described as a gun battle in an otherwise quiet neighborhood.
Watsonville Police Sgt. Mish Radich said neighbors reported hearing multiple shots fired just before 8 p.m. on the 100 block of Lawrence Avenue near South Green Valley Road.
Police found one man down bleeding in the front yard of a home. Though CPR was administered by police and paramedics, he was later pronounced dead at the scene, said Michelle Pulido, public information officer for WPD.
The Sheriff’s coroner identified the victim as Dominic Quintana, 32.
The incident began when Quintana and 49-year-old Louis Ledesma of Watsonville approached the Lawrence Avenue home, burst in and snatched up a load of processed marijuana and a large amount of cash from the home that was operating as an illegal pot dispensary. As they fled the scene, a man at the home opened fire with a gun, striking Quintana in his driveway.
That’s when Ledesma allegedly opened fire with a handgun and a gun battle ensued. During the melee, he and Quintana dropped their haul.
“I live nearby and I heard the gunfire,” said Auggie Campos. “I could tell it was a gun fight because I heard different calibers. I knew it wasn’t fireworks. It’s frightening.”
Ledesma fled north down the hill on Lawrence Avenue and at least one witness spotted him fleeing.
“I heard a shooting and I saw the man running away on the sidewalk with a gun in his hand,” said a woman who chose to give only her first as Lilia. “And then a silver car came and a girl was driving and they drove away on Lawrence. And later I went to the scene and I saw many people there and there was a body on the sidewalk.”
When Lilia was asked about the home, she said, “I’ve been watching many people come and go. I have always been afraid by what would happen and I knew something would happen there. This used to be a peaceful neighborhood and now the neighbors are afraid.”
After the shooting, Ledesma led Watsonville Police on a foot chase across the grassy athletic field at nearby Rolling Hills Middle School, which flanks Holm Road. As one officer closed in, Ledesma spun around and brandished a handgun, only to have the fast-acting officer slap the gun out of his hand, Pulido said.
Ledesma
Ledesma, who was on parole at the time of the incident, was then Tased by the officer just before Axel, a K-9 officer, was unleashed by police and tackled the suspect. He was then taken into custody and taken to Watsonville Community Hospital.
By Sunday, two more men were taken into custody at the Lawrence Avenue house: Elias Gutierrez, 46, and his son Eli Gutierrez, 25, of Watsonville. The men were discovered to be the ones running the illegal pot dispensary.
Eli Gutierrez
Elias Gutierrez
As darkness fell, police placed scores of yellow evidence tags beside bullet shell casings strewn about the street. A large amount of marijuana buds, various containers and plastic bags, along with some cash were also scattered across the driveway and street near where Quintana was stretched out beneath a tarp.
Police closed off the section of Lawrence Avenue and taped off a large portion of the field at Rolling Hills Middle School to protect evidence at both crime scenes.
Police from the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office and the California Highway Patrol joined Watsonville Police in untangling the dramatic chain of events.
“It is a complicated case,” Pulido said. “We believe there were other people involved.”
On Sunday morning Lawrence Avenue remained closed where agents from the Department of Justice were brought in to assist WPD in the investigation, which is still ongoing.
Pulido said that the community helped greatly in the arrests, and encouraged residents to speak up if they notice suspicious activity in their neighborhood.
“If you see or suspect anything, report it,” she said.
A large amount of marijuana, cash and numerous bullet shell casings are strewn across Lawrence Avenue Saturday night. Photo by Tarmo Hannula/Pajaronian
