Suspect in Watsonville triple shooting enters not guilty plea

Manuel Adrian Perez, the suspect in Monday’s triple shooting in Watsonville, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment today. He is charged with assault with a semi-automatic rifle.

Perez was booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail after the shooting that left three people, including the suspect, injured.

Watsonville police said Perez was upset at the victim over an interaction between the victim and one of Perez’s family members that happened earlier that day. Perez and the 46-year-old male victim live on the second story of a home in the 600 block of Rodriguez Street that was converted into multiple living spaces.

Police said Perez had a handgun and knocked on the man’s door that night. Officers say they got into a fight and then struggled for the gun. The gun fired and injured three people, including Perez and a teenage girl.

All three were taken to the hospital for treatment. Everybody is expected to be okay. Perez was booked into the jail Tuesday morning. Detectives found the gun that they think was used in the shooting, and that gun is registered to Perez.

Perez’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 15.