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Arrests made in 2007 Napa gang murder
4 charged in death of Ricardo Gonzalez
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
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By KERANA TODOROV
Register Staff Writer
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Four men have been arrested and charged with murder in the gang-related shooting of Napa teen Ricardo Gonzalez in December.

Napa County District Attorney Gary Lieberstein and Napa Police Chief Richard Melton announced the arrests Tuesday and said more arrests are expected in connection with the Dec. 8, 2007, incident on the 2500 block of Laurel Street in west Napa.
Raymond Almodobar, 18, Christian Gallegos, 19, and Danny Ortega, 19, all of Napa, were arrested Tuesday and are scheduled to be arraigned in Napa County Superior Court this afternoon.

A fourth suspect, Stephen Barrios, 19, is serving a two-year-term for vandalism at the California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi, according to Napa County Chief Deputy District Attorney John Goold.
Barrios, who will be transferred to Napa County Jail, may be arraigned in a week, Goold said. Goold declined to say how many more arrests are expected, saying the case remains under investigation.

Gonzalez, 19, was shot once in the head shortly before midnight on Dec. 8, 2007. The teen, who was married and whose wife Nilda was to give birth to their first child shortly thereafter, died two days after the shooting at Santa Rosa Medical Center.
The four men have been charged with one count of murder, one count of participating in a criminal gang, along with sentencing enhancements regarding participating or facilitating a criminal street gang. They face life in prison if convicted on all counts.

Bail for Barrios and Ortega was set at $5 million each. Gallegos and Almodobar were being held on $3 million bail.

Gonzalez’ killing came after a series of gang-related incidents in Napa.

The statement issued by Melton and Lieberstein stated, “The public is reminded that criminal charges such as these are allegations only and that all criminal defendants are presumed innocent unless they are convicted in court.”
59 comment(s)

steph wrote on Oct 7, 2008 4:03 PM:

" Good job, NPD.
Keep the pressure on the gang members.
Hopefully it will turn some young people away from that lifestyle.
There's so much more to life than fighting and killing and always having to look over your shoulder. "

bloodagar wrote on Oct 7, 2008 4:17 PM:

" Booking Photo's? "

valligirl wrote on Oct 7, 2008 5:29 PM:

" Good work NPD! "

redredwine wrote on Oct 7, 2008 8:10 PM:

" I was just thinking about this story, I have to drive by the crime scene everyday, and I always wondered if there was anything coming up soon, GREAT JOB NPD!!! "

49er wrote on Oct 7, 2008 9:15 PM:

" yeah good job, if they had the right people! "

livlaughluv wrote on Oct 7, 2008 10:58 PM:

" Honestly this is the biggest relief i have felt in a long time. Ricardo and i were so close when he past away, more like a brother. I am just so happy to hear that those "boys" will get what they deserve. "

kbf wrote on Oct 8, 2008 5:50 AM:

" 49er, I would think that after all the time put into the investigation they would have the right people. You said had the right people, do you know something they don't? "

jfz wrote on Oct 8, 2008 5:51 AM:

" After four years, the story is a bit sketchy. What are the details on the gangs? Are they still around? How was the killing gang related? Which gangs? . "

skippert wrote on Oct 8, 2008 6:42 AM:

" Sad but true, Napa PD is getting pretty good at this. Nice work. Now may the young man rest in peace. "

ds_granny911 wrote on Oct 8, 2008 8:17 AM:

" To 49er: Do u know something the COPS don't know, if so, why hasn't your butt come forward and talked or are u part of the other gang?

To jfz: Don't u read the papers, there are 2 rival gangs in Napa and have been hear for awhile, Sorenos and Nortenos. And Ricardo was in a gang but was changing his life for the better becoming father and husband. I have known Ricardo since elementary school.

To the 4 who were arrested, I have known most of u since Kindergarten, Why would u do this????

Great job Napa P.D. & Gang Unit! "

Dwayne wrote on Oct 8, 2008 9:15 AM:

" What took so long to get these guys...!!! "

steph wrote on Oct 8, 2008 9:58 AM:

" Jeez, Dwayne! Give the NPD a break! They did catch the guys. It is tough to crack a case like this--nobody wants to give up anything to the cops, they'd rather just handle things their own way.

I'm proud of our guys! "

grapetownkid wrote on Oct 8, 2008 10:10 AM:

" haha.....i agree with "49er"...fingers can point but never talk, think about it,it isn't always what it seems . case still NOT closed...unless.......... "

tink420 wrote on Oct 8, 2008 10:28 AM:

" its a sad thing to happen but they need to get tge right people n not just those who were there. i know 3 of the 4 who were arrested "

Mike Staleeny wrote on Oct 8, 2008 11:07 AM:

" What evidence do they have against these gentlemen? none. "

Napagrrl wrote on Oct 8, 2008 11:25 AM:

" jfz, you wrote, " After four years, the story is a bit sketchy. What are the details on the gangs? Are they still around? How was the killing gang related? Which gangs? . "

What did I miss? After four years? This happened in December - just 10 months ago. "

Venegas868 wrote on Oct 8, 2008 11:37 AM:

" I just think it is so sad. Ricardo's life is gone and his child will never know him. What a waste.

The lives of those involved are wasted as well.

No one got anything out of this, all it did was take from innocent people. Shame on them for being so selfish. "

steph wrote on Oct 8, 2008 12:13 PM:

" Right, Mike. Our DA encourages police officers to make random arrests without evidence. It makes his job all that much easier.

Please. "

Paisano wrote on Oct 8, 2008 12:37 PM:

" Five lives wasted and many other lives affected. And for what? Red or blue. How sad. "

SyDnEy.LyNnE wrote on Oct 8, 2008 1:50 PM:

" n4h yu guys are trippin. raymond wouldnt do this. yu got tha wrong people. FREE R4YM0ND!!!! "

funnyyou wrote on Oct 8, 2008 2:19 PM:

" SyDn3y.LyNn3, You're kidding right! "

707yayarea wrote on Oct 8, 2008 3:11 PM:

" I wonder what evidence they have against these kids? They probably got the wrong people. "

bloodagar wrote on Oct 8, 2008 4:42 PM:

" SyDnEy.LyNnE wrote on Oct 8, 2008 1:50 PM:
" n4h yu guys are trippin. raymond wouldnt do this. yu got tha wrong people. FREE R4YM0ND!!!! "

Did you text this in? Wow, Funnyme, she HAS to be kidding. "

CheezyBeezy wrote on Oct 8, 2008 5:41 PM:

" Okkayy...why is Barrios and Ortega's Bail 5 million??? Shouldnt the charges be the same??!! And if he was having baby what was he thinking being out with surenos? When u already know that gangs are dangerous. So of course gangs are all about killing and fighting... "

napanian wrote on Oct 8, 2008 8:31 PM:

" uhm i think that gangs are very stupid and people that join them are looking to fit in. i feel bad for all the juvenilles that wer involved in this killing.
Ricardo Gonzales is gone and it is sad.
He has a myspace promoting himself as a gang affiliated person. Tell me if someone was trying to change their lifestyle why would they still be around something they're not trying to be apart of? im not saying anyone deserves to die the way he did, just that we choose the people we're friends with. He obviousley knew he was hanging out with the wrong crowd. "

caringnapan wrote on Oct 8, 2008 10:23 PM:

" Yes, Gonzalez died. He left a widow, a baby daughter and a grieving mother, but again "Innocent until proven guilty." And these 4 men left behind family, but this is what comes with the whole deal of being a "gangster." Really, both rival gangs, because yes this was a gang fight not a drive by shooting of an innocent bystander, knew that getting involved with gangs would result in trouble. "

ana91 wrote on Oct 8, 2008 10:28 PM:

" yEAh i WONDER WHt EViDENCE tHEy hAVE AGAiNSt tHEM? i DONt tHiNk tHAt RAyMOND hAD ANytHiNG to DO WitH tHiS hE PROBABLLy WAS At tHE WRONG PLACE At tHE WRONG tiME!
FREE RAyMOND FASt! "

justnana wrote on Oct 8, 2008 11:11 PM:

" I hope that those who know that those arrested are the wrong people, will have the guts to let NPD know who the right people are. If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. And...I have to totally agree that being in the middle of a gang fight is truly "being in the wrong place at the wrong time". One might have thought of that before venturing out. "

livlaughluv wrote on Oct 8, 2008 11:24 PM:

" okay so for all of you that say "raymond DIDNT kill ricardo" clearly you kno wat happend.So maybe you should step and say something. why dont you turn the tables.. people just want justice. we all deserve it! npd has a clue as to what happend that night, and with capturing a few of the suspects this could get others to talk and narrow it all down... cause the truth is, is that there was one bullet which means one gun!! "

707 49ER FAN wrote on Oct 8, 2008 11:40 PM:

" RAY IS INNOCENT ANYONE WHO SAYS OTHER WISE IS NOT SOMEONE WHO KNOWS HIM. ALOT OF PEOPLE DID NOT LIKE RICARDO (GRUMMPY) GONZALEZ IT COULD HAVE BEEN ANYONE, BUT IT WAS NOT RAY!! FREE RAY!!!!!!!! "

N7A0P7A wrote on Oct 9, 2008 12:00 AM:

" IVE KNOWN RAY SINCE I WAZ YOUNG N I KNO 4 A FACT THAT HE DID NOT DO IT....HE'Z LIKE MY A BROTHER 2 ME...N THEY NEVER SAID ON DA PAPER OR NOW WHERE THAT THEY GOT EVIDENCE ON HIM...FRRE MY BRO RAY!!!! "

piece of mind wrote on Oct 9, 2008 5:34 AM:

" everybody is trying to make this kid richardo out to be some good kid that just wanted to work and take care of his wife and daughter but if that was the case then why was he at that gang fight. that night he left his house with sureno gang members looking for a fight. they were looking for trouble YES IT DOESNT MAKE IT RIGHT FOR THIS KID TO BE SHOOT AND DEAD but this kid wasnt trying to change his life like everyone says!!!!!! "

G-towner wrote on Oct 9, 2008 10:36 AM:

" "grumpy" made his choices. whoever pulled the trigger made their choices. look noo one wants to treat these kids the way they need to be adressed. the fact is they are nobodys by nobodys i mean they are young uninfluencial, exept on other nothing nobodys with no purpose in life. im sorry but 13 and 14 yearolds dont have purposes in life(ive met people in their late twentys and well into their thirties who are still 13)(im not cruel obviosly i mean they dont have purposes... yet im getting at the fact that kids dont have a huge stake in the world yet) the last thing you want to tell a struggling youth is that they really dont matter when he is trying to find some purpose in life, but the fact is that thats what we are dealing with. these kids flock to eachother in some sort bond they consider to be impecable. this is whats funny about that. since they are not mature enough to see that they are dealing with insecure youth.(insecure youth are very unstable afraid and highly influenceable) they are very close to other unstable afraid insecure youth. these guys all act very hard but when it comes down to it its every man for himself. when the $hit hits the fan these guys you have an ubreakable lifelong bond with violate your brotherhood why> its because you were too immature and naive to recognize that you dont know what a life bond is you dont know yourself enough to know who you should trust or make friends with. the fact is that a personal identity is what these people are looking for and without one you dont know yourself or your limits or your own preferences . "

napadad wrote on Oct 9, 2008 11:20 AM:

" maybe ray should rat "

freedanny wrote on Oct 9, 2008 6:08 PM:

" I pray for Danny and his family that he is proven inocent. FREE DANNY!!!! If "grumpy" cared so much about his young child, then why wasnt he AT HOME? Why was he in a GANG NEIBOORHOOD involved in the fighting that was going on???? Maybe that was his karma for all the things he had done to others cause if your really his "friend" then you should know all the messed up things he did in his gang when he should have been raising his kid! NO IT DOESNT MEAN HE DESERVED TO DIE EITHER, BUT im tired of reading comments on how he was so great and kind! HE WAS NOT! "

MOMNAPA wrote on Oct 10, 2008 3:24 AM:

" RAY IS NOT GUILTY HE COULD NEVER DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS,HE MAY HAVE BEEN THERE BUT HE DID NOT DO IT,HE WAS HIT RIGHT AWAY,SO I THINK U NEED TO KEEP SEARCHING FOR THE ONE WHO DID DO IT.RAY HAS ALWAYS BEEN A SWEET AND POLITE KID I JUST CANT BELIEVE THIS,LET RAYMOND GO!!!!!IT ONLY TOOK ONE PERSON TO DO IT SO FIND THE ONE THAT DID I DONT THINK IT WAS ANY OF THESE THREE. "

ValleyKitten wrote on Oct 10, 2008 1:23 PM:

" Our thoughts and prayers are with you Danny Ortega, friends and family...the truth will come out soon, be strong..I believe in Danny. God Bless all, even those who want to point fingers and call him guilty. "

MyMind wrote on Oct 10, 2008 3:11 PM:

" I'd lik to see what evidence there is....the inoccent will be set free. Our prayers are with Danny and his family. "

49er wrote on Oct 11, 2008 6:13 PM:

" Wow, thank you to all Danny's fam, friends and loved ones for helping out toward getting Danny a good lawyer......we will all be there in court for you on the 29th Danny. we all know ur innocent and not guilty and soon u will be back at my house watchin the football games and raiding my refrigerator.......lol! We miss ya fam! Stay Strong fam!! Free Danny Ortega! "

ruiz94558 wrote on Oct 11, 2008 8:37 PM:

" thank you piece of mind....my pooint exactly!!! we all know the these youngsters were arrested for what??.....to look good and say 'they caught the guys and now this family can have 'peace'? yea right,.....a year later?? come on! it took this long obviously because there was no proof and they had to lock up random youngsters and say 'we caght them, case closed'! I've known Ray for many years and I know he wouldn't do this. Everyone shows sympathy for Grumpy, but what about these innocent youngsters and their families and parents?? and yes.....I said INNOCENT. "

FreeRaymo01 wrote on Oct 12, 2008 5:26 PM:

" This is so dumb i know ray did not do anything and he would never do anthing like this so FREE RAYMO "

BIGDADDY#2 wrote on Oct 12, 2008 9:30 PM:

" ALL THESE PEOPLE LEAVING COMMENTS ARE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF THESE GUYS DANNY,CHRIS,STEVEN,AND RAY. OBVIOUSLY U GUYS SAY "THEY ARE INNOCENT" OR "IVE KNOWN THEM FOR A LONG TIME, HE'S NOT A GANGSTER AND WOULDNT DO ANYTHING LIKE THIS." BUT U GUYS REALLY HAVE TO ADMIT THAT THEY WERE OUT THERE CAUSING TROUBLE. SO IM GLAD THEY ARE IN JAIL. "

FreeRaymo01 wrote on Oct 13, 2008 9:03 PM:

" okay BIGDADDY#2

YES THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN OUT THERE CAUSING TROUBLE BUT ALL THESE PEOPLE KNOW THERE FRIENDS AND YES I KNOW RAY WOULD NEVER DO SUCH A THING LIKE THIS CAUSE YEA HE IS MY FAMILY
AND THE GUY WHO WAS MURDERED WAS INVOLVED TO ALL I GOT TO SAY IS I KNOW FOR A FACT RAY DID NOT DO ANYTHING HE WAS HIT RIGHT AWAY WITH A BAT AND PUT IN THE CAR SO RAY YES INNOCENT!!!!!!!!!! "

winghunter wrote on Oct 14, 2008 11:54 AM:

" Freeraymo01,
Getting in a car and heading over to the rival gang to shoot someone is "doing something". If my friends came over and said "jump in the car we are going to beat so and so down tonight", my responce whould be no thanks. I agree with fighting if you are defending yourself from attack but to start that fight you must also be ready to pay the price.
Him getting knocked out early does not excuse him from the killing, not even a good defense in court. "

ruiz94558 wrote on Oct 14, 2008 5:44 PM:

" okay big daddy 2......obvioulsy if we're leaving these comments saying 'we know them' and that they indeed 'are innocent', i think ...um....is because WE DO know them and therefore we KNOW they would not do something like this. these kids are examples of napa county railroading innocent kids!! so much for the system.....go figure. and the guilty people who did this are still roaming the street....NICE! "

kracker wrote on Oct 14, 2008 6:55 PM:

" Ruiz, the only people being railroaded are the good tax paying citizens of this county. If the parents of all these gangster wanna be's would have laid down the law from the start, NPD would not of had to here. Make an example out of all of them! Maybe it will reduce the spread of trash that is going on in this town. "

NAPAMOM21 wrote on Oct 14, 2008 8:50 PM:

" kracker: Totally agree!!!

We as parents shouldn't turn a blind eye to the obvious signs of our kids getting involved with gangs.

ruiz94558:

If these kids were completely innocent they wouldn't be in this predicament.

Great job NPD!!!

Now it's up to our judges to put these kids behind bars for good! "

what the wrote on Oct 15, 2008 9:02 AM:

" "If these kids were completely innocent they wouldn't be in this predicament" Napamom, no one is completely innocent. These are mostly good kids who started making bad choices. Wouldn't it be nice if we were able to help them start making good choices and get back on track rather than just judging them without knowing all of the facts and locking them up forever. You should be ashamed for being so judgmental. You are part of the problem. "

kracker wrote on Oct 15, 2008 1:32 PM:

" What the, "no one is completey innocent" are you joking? There are many kids in this town who come from similiar back grounds as these gang bangers, who chose to get involved with positive recreation. We have many sports programs in the valley with kids from all walks of life. To say no one is innocent is taking away from the good kids who choose to do right. The young men charged in this case are plenty old enough to know right from wrong. They made a CHOICE to be involved in gangs, now they must suffer the consequences of there CHOICE! "

FreeRaymo01 wrote on Oct 15, 2008 11:03 PM:

" wing hunter

okay well i cant speak for ray on this one but yea he may have been there but he did not kill this guy and the guy who did is still out there so somethings wrong with the system if there going to charge these INNOCENT boys with murder that they did not do so whats wrong with this system

NPD you need to do a better job and get the right people not the innocent ones "

cellsitegod wrote on Oct 19, 2008 7:16 AM:

" I guess we have a bunch of "Armchair detectives" commenting here.
I'm sure with all the publicity on the gang problem here, the NPD is just going to randomly pick up people and charge them.
At the very least, these guys know something about the crime.
What happend to moral responsibility?
They shouldn't have to detained to give up information.
It's real shame they have more loyalty to a bunch of vicious, coward, punk gangs. Then, to their community that tries to give them a safe place to live. "

jonb3333 wrote on Oct 19, 2008 9:16 PM:

" FreeRaymo01,
How do you know they are innocent?
If you are in a gang, there is nothing innocent about you.
I think our country should treat them as the terrorist they are and implement the death penalty on all known gang members. They end up that way anyway.
If they did it would save a bunch of innocent people from being raped, mugged and murdered in drive-by's every year. Not only that we as citizens wouldn't have to listen to their incredibly loud garbage music and blatant disregard for every other person alive. No more graffiti, drugs, violence. I say gang member = death penalty. The End "

NAPAMOM21 wrote on Oct 20, 2008 7:30 PM:

" jonb3333: Well said!!!

Where do I sign up for that vote?!?!?

We have too much tolerance towards gang members! "

FreeRaymo01 wrote on Oct 20, 2008 7:49 PM:

" all i got to say is they will find out who really did it and it was not ray "

janet707 wrote on Oct 24, 2008 9:37 AM:

" im not sure why everyone thinks all these guys are innocent that are arrested for Grumpys Murder weather anyone of them 5 guys didnt pull the trigger they were all in conspericy of an gang related action... Grumpy Died and So i Will Love Too See Fat Danny, Ray , JAime Stephen and Christian Root in Prison and learn that gangs aint as easy as they think they are and if the cops have them as victims its cus they got evidence and proff that they did it admit to whats going on and whats happing in napa707 "

korikill wrote on Oct 27, 2008 9:52 AM:

" so some of you KNOW what happened, yet refuse tp help your so-called friends by telling the police THE TRUTH.

Man, am I glad you're not MY friend!

Ps, simply being at a crime scene while the crime is going on makes you guilty, it's called THE LAW. "

ruiz94558 wrote on Oct 29, 2008 10:33 AM:

" just because we know these kids didn't do this doesn't mean we know who did it. as far as i'm concerned, these kids would not do something like this..... everyone needs to not be so judgemental without even knowing the people and the facts....obviously this 'grumpy' guy wasn't all that innocent either! helloooo he got in a car with sureños to find trouble!...but you know,....Karma....it's all a bout karma and i know these kids will get out and the real ones will get caught. and all those people judging without even knowing the facts and jumping to conclusions will have to eat your words. "

nappaman wrote on Oct 29, 2008 8:57 PM:

" good riddince to all of them. I was rasied in Ney york city and would love to take these wanna be gang members on a tour. few would would come back "

SOCCER MOM wrote on Nov 13, 2008 8:44 PM:

" " Working in the community trying my best to get these kids off the streets. Always handidng out volunteer work flyers to those teens and young adults. Getting them in afterschool programs. Getting them jobs or simply spendidng an afternoon with them. A very well known young adlut who workes very hard and earned a good name in napa valley. This is what it comes down to. Its a very sad situation where these men will be charged with some ones elses crime. Im sure the napa police department knows these men are not guilty of murder. They were at the scene like 60 others. I dont think it is fair where they will use these men as an example to teach napa valley's youth a lesson. I don't know all these men personaly. But there is one who stood out to me. Christian Gallegos. About to transfer schools to become Doctor, a Brian Surgen. Strait A student, very loving and respectfull. Recently engaged to his 4 year girlfriend. Now facing life in prison? They all have families not just the victim. I agree, Bieng at the scene does not deserve life in prison! Suspects in the case have personaly stated that Christian Gallegos was never affiliated wih gang activity. Another suspects in this case quoted "He was just cool with every one, He shouln't be in this mess", I realy hope napa valley's pick of jury trail is diverse and prepared for what this has come down to. I pray that the jury will take a step back and put them selfs in the Mens & families positions and realize that not all these men are what the media have turned them into. I wish them all the best of luck. Stay strong. " "

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