Update: Armed carjackers caught after 11 hour search in Watsonville
UPDATE: 4/13/2018 9:47 a.m. Three carjacking suspects are in custody after shooting at a deputy during an 11 hour pursuit in Watsonville.
The pursuit began at 11:45 p.m. Thursday night when victims of a carjacking from several weeks ago spotted their car at a gas station and began following it. The suspects started shooting at the victims and got away.
A deputy with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office started pursuing the car and was shot at in the 1100 block of Green Valley Road. The suspects crashed the car on Travers Lane and took off on foot.
At least 10 agencies assisted with the search. Sheriff Jim Hart told KION the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office played a critical role by helping pin point the exact location of the suspects with their drone.
Monte Vista Christian School and Bradley Elementary School were placed on lockdown. A warning shot was fired at suspects from a resident in the area.
Deputies were able to arrest all three men near Pioneer View Road around 9:00 a.m. Friday.
The Sheriff’s Office tweeted saying the area was clear, all three suspects are in custody and school lockdowns have been lifted.
Two of the suspects have been identified as 21-year-old Julio Galindo, and 19-year-old Jose Contreras Valencia. The third suspect is a 17-year-old boy.
The three men are being charged with two counts of attempted murder.
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Watsonville Police say, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a shooting suspect in the area of Green Valley Road and Travers Lane in Watsonville.
In the meantime, two schools are on lockdown and residents in that area have been ordered to shelter in place by deputies.
According to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s office the schools on lockdown are Monte Vista Christian School and Bradley Elementary School.
KION has a reporter en route. This article will be updated.
