DA’s Office: Man arrested for Pajaro bar shooting that killed two people allegedly acted in self-defense
PAJARO, Calif. (KION-TV)- UPDATE ON NOV. 28, 2023 AT 1:26 PM- The Monterey County District Attorney's Office said that a 47-year-old Watsonville man was acting in self defense in a Pajaro bar shooting that killed two people on Nov. 21.
Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine Pacioni said that 36-year-old Gerardo Hernandez Herrera was armed with a firearm and entered the El Torero Bar.
Pacioni said Hernandez Herrera confronted 47-year-old Sergio Ramos Carranza and opened fire.
The DA's office said Carranza drew a firearm and returned fire. Pacioni said that Ramos shot and killed Hernandez Herrera.
"All shots were fired within a three-and-a half seconds," Pacioni said.
One of the bullets killed 36-year-old Carolina Martinez of San Jose who was an employee at the bar.
Carranza did turn himself in to Watsonville Police and the Monterey County Sheriff's Office said that Carranza was booked into the Monterey County Jail on two counts of homicide.
Pacioni said that three other people were struck by gunfire but did not have life-threatening injuries.
Carranza will be arraigned in a Salinas courtroom on Tuesday on a felony charge of carrying a loaded firearm in public. The DA's office explained why Carranza does not currently have additional charges facing him
"Under the legal doctrine of transferred intent, if a person fires justifiably in self-defense and inadvertently injures or kills an innocent bystander, the law of self-defense applies, and the person does not commit a criminal act. Under this law, the person who initiated the gunfire is responsible for all injuries or deaths that result," Pacioni said in a statement.
Pacioni said that the investigation and review of the shooting is ongoing, and the District Attorney's Office said they will have no further comment until that process is complete.
Pajaro Bar shooting suspect has been arrested, victim identified
UPDATE AT 9:15 PM ON NOV. 21, 2023- The Monterey County Sheriff's Office confirmed to KION that a suspect involved in a bar shooting early Tuesday morning has turned himself in.
Monterey County Undersheriff Keith Boyd told KION that 47-year-old Sergio Ramos Carranza turned himself in at the Watsonville Police Department around 8:07 p.m. on Tuesday night.
The incident started around 1:07 a.m. on Tuesday morning when deputies found a male victim was dead from a gunshot wound at the El Torero Bar in Pajaro.
Deputies said that three other woman also had gunshot wounds. All three woman were transported to Natividad Medical Center for their injuries. A 36-year-old San Jose woman died at the hospital from her injuries.
The Monterey County Sheriff's Office have identified one of the victims as 36-year-old Jenny Carolina Martinez Bejarano of San Jose.
Ramos has been arrested and booked for two counts of homicide. The Monterey County Sheriff's Office believes that there are no other suspects involved in this shooting.
Original Story
The Monterey County Sheriff's Office said that two people have died in a shooting that took place at the El Torero Bar in Pajaro early Tuesday morning.
The Sheriff's Office along with Watsonville Police and the California Highway Patrol responded to a report of a shooting at the El Torero Bar around 1:07 a.m.
When deputies got to the scene, they located a male victim who had died from a gunshot wound.
Deputies also found three woman who also had gunshot wounds. All three woman were transported to Natividad Medical Center for treatment.
The Sheriff's Office said that a 36-year-old woman from San Jose, CA did pass away from her injuries at the hospital.
The Sheriff's Office have identified the suspect as 47-year-old Sergio Carranza Ramos of Watsonville.
Deputies said that Ramos was last seen driving a dark grey or blue, 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, with a California License plate of 81545R1.
The Sheriff's Office said Ramos is considered armed and dangerous.
If you happened to have any information on the shooting, you are asked to contact the Monterey County Sheriff's Office Investigation Division at 831-755-3700.
