The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office has filed a request to try a 17-year-old suspect as an adult in connection with the fatal shooting last month at a large birthday party near Morgan Hill.
The suspect has been charged with one count of murder and six counts of attempted murder in the July 25 shooting. If tried as an adult, he faces a possible life sentence, according to the District Attorney’s Office. If tried in juvenile court, the suspect could get seven years behind bars.
One person died and six others were injured during the pop-up party in Coyote Valley northwest of Morgan Hill. The gathering was promoted on social media and attended by about 300 people, authorities said.
Just before the shooting, Santa Clara County Sheriff’s deputies responded about 10:15 p.m. to reports of intoxicated people in the street and someone throwing bottles at cars.
When they arrived, deputies encountered chaos and partygoers running from just-fired gunshots, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies provided medical assistance to the victims until paramedics arrived and declared one person dead.
The suspect was arrested on Thursday in Salinas. Several tips, videos, and photos provided Santa Clara County Sheriff’s detectives with evidence that helped identify the suspected shooter, the sheriff’s office said.
The suspect, whose name was not released, was scheduled for a detention hearing on Monday at the Santa Clara County Juvenile Justice Courthouse in San Jose.
A status hearing in the case has been set for Sept. 21, according to District Attorney’s Office.